Sinbad the Dog – a soldier, a symbol and a talisman (10 photos)

A touching granite monument is dedicated to the four-legged mascot of the Second World War.





During the Second World War, it was not uncommon for ships to have pets. But not every naval mascot was honored with their own monument.



Sinbad is a dog of an unknown breed who served for seven years on board the Coast Guard ship Campbell, which protected American convoys during World War II. He is one of the most famous, popular and beloved mascots among the people. It is believed that the boatswain's lover abandoned the puppy, and the crew warmed up the abandoned one and left it on board. The baby reciprocated the sailors. According to several sources, the foster child was treated not as a pet, but as a full-fledged member of the crew. Sinbad had his own uniform, service record and even a personal hammock for sleeping. And he allegedly joined the Coast Guard by "signing" the documents on his admission to service with the imprint of his paw pads.





When the USS Campbell was nearly sunk by a German U-boat in 1943, Sinbad became a media sensation, appearing in articles in the New York Times and Life magazine, which described him as "a Liberty Ram Chow Hound, with a dash of bulldog, Doberman Pinscher, and something else."



During his service aboard the Campbell, the furry hero was awarded six medals, including the Defense Service Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. All of the medal ribbons were attached to his collar. The dog was nicknamed "salted" in his circles. This is what they called seasoned, experienced sailors who were "salted through and through by the sea."



After his retirement in 1948, Sinbad settled at a lighthouse in New Jersey, where he spent the last years of his life. After his death, a granite monument was erected in his honor at the base of the flagpole.