It's been said that war tests the true metal of man and beast. In the wake of that proverb stand the courageous deeds of the unsung heroes of World War II, the Marine Corps War Dog Platoons.

Like their human counterparts they too were civilians who volunteered to serve their country. When the Marines decided to enlist the services of man's best friend, the Doberman Pinscher club of America volunteered to supply and deliver dogs to the various recruiting stations as part of the Dogs for Defense Program.

"A lot of people don't realize that these dogs were loaned to us by their owners," said William Putney of Woodland Hills, California. "As commanding officer of the Marine War Dog Program, it was my job to train them and their handlers for combat. The concept was new so we learned as we went. We got the dogs used to exploding shells, that wasn't too hard, but teaching them to know when it was okay to bark and when it wasn't, was more difficult."

Putney's approach to teaching the War Dogs their lessons was always done in a non-aggressive manner. His love for the dogs and their well-being always came first. The end result culminated in a combat-ready team that would forever forge a bond between animal and handler.

"We trained three kinds of dogs," explained Putney. "We had scout dogs, messenger dogs, and dogs who detected mines. A big misconception is that the dogs were trained to attack the enemy, this simply wasn't true. They were there to help us find the Japanese. It was our job to fight em."

Dogs were also used to carry ammunition and medical supplies between the lines. More often than not, they performed their tasks under heavy fire. Due to their high level of effectiveness, they often became the target of Japanese troops. This was the case on July 21, 1944, when, under intense enemy fire, the Second and Third War Dog platoons hit the beach as the invasion of Guam got underway.

Two hundred fifty Marines inched their way through a steamy jungle. Nerves on edge they knew the enemy was out there, but where?

"The jungle was so thick you couldn't see your hand in front of your face," recalled a Marine who was on the patrol in question. "We didn't know it at the time, but we were walking straight into an ambush." Apparently the enemy were invisible to everyone but Kurt, the Doberman Pinscher responsible for saving the men's lives that night. Kurt became the most important member of the Third War Dog Platoon on Guam. Specially trained to "sniff" out enemy troops, Kurt was able to alert his men to the pending ambush.

During the ensuing firefight, an exploding enemy mortar shell critically injured Kurt and his handler PFC Alan Jacobson. When medics arrived, Jacobsen refused treatment until his dog had been taken back to the aid station, further demonstrating the special bond between Marine handlers and their dogs.

Commanding officer William Putney also cared deeply for the brave dogs who were injured or gave their lives protecting the troops. As the aging Marine recalled Kurt's heroics, his eyes locked onto that special place that we all go when we remember things that once were. Holding back a tear, he relived the night that Kurt was brought to his aid station.

"I tried desperately to save his life. After surgery, I carried him into my foxhole to watch over him. When the shells hit and exploded, the earth rose and smashed into my face. Kurt was unable to protect himself, so I gathered him in my arms to keep him from slamming down on the ground as the shells burst all around us."

At three a.m., with machine gun bullets cracking through the bushes overhead, Kurt stopped breathing, earning him the dubious honor of becoming the first of 25 War Dogs to die in combat during the Guam Campaign.

"When I asked my commanding officer what I should do with Kurt, he replied 'put him in the Marine Cemetery. He's a Marine like all the rest of them.'"

Reports of Marine Corps dogs saving soldier's lives are endless. Cyril O'Brien, an infantryman on Guam who later became a war correspondent, recalled many times when these dogs saved lives. O'Brien himself was saved two times by these wonderful animals. "The dogs stopped us from walking into an ambush that none of us would have survived. If it weren't for that dog my mother would have gotten some flowers from the government and I'd just be a name on a cross."

All in all, there were 72 dogs on Guam. Twenty-four were killed in action and were buried next to Kurt, the first dog to die in the line of duty. One other dog was buried at sea. Those who survived became part of a program developed by Bill Putney whereby they were reintroduced into civilian life. The former warriors once again became ideal loving pets.

Putney was also responsible for securing a final resting place for these unsung heroes. By working with the U.S. Park Service, Marine General Louis Wilson and former handler turned attorney Dale Quillen, Putney was able to move the cemetery out of a remote jungle area back to its original location on Asan Beach.

On June 20, 1994, "Always Faithful", a life-sized statue of a Doberman created by artist Susan Bahary and the nation's first tribute to war dogs was unveiled.

"This memorial is absolutely fitting," said Putney. "As the Commandant of the Marines said, 'this is a tribute to fallen Marines.' He didn't call them dogs. He called them Marines."

Terry Wilson is a freelance television producer and writer based in San Diego, California. He is currently writing a screenplay based on the exploits of the War Dogs who fought on Guam, Saipan and Tinian.