Dr. William Putney
William Putney is a veterinarian who was assigned to the Marine Corps'
War Dog Training School in 1943, following his graduation from Auburn
University's veterinary school. As the commanding officer of the 3rd
War Dog Platoon, part of the Marine's 3rd division, Putney earned the
Silver Star for destroying an enemy machine gun position and was awarded
the Purple Heart for wounds received. The War Dog Platoon conducted
over 450 patrols on the island of Guam.
In 1994, Putney established the War Dog Cemetery on the U. S. Navel
Base on Guam. It was the memorial located at this cemetery which was
the model for the monument now on the grounds of the U. T. College of
Veterinary Medicine. Putney, a native of Virginia, is married to U.
T. graduate Betsy Allen, a native of Newport, TN. They currently live
in Woodland Hills, California, where Putney practiced veterinary medicine
until his retirement in 1990.
Dr.
Maurice Acree
Maurice Acree is a retired physician from Nashville, where he specialized
in pathology. His connection with the U. T. College of Veterinary Medicine
began several years ago when he brought his two Doberman pinscher dogs
to the veterinary hospital for specialized treatment. Since then he
has been an avid support of the college and became a major financial
contributor in 1997. His interest in the War Dog Memorial came from
his affection not only for the Doberman pinscher breed, but as a means
to express the bond that exists between humans and dogs.
Acree served in Korea as a U. S. Navy fighter pilot and is a graduate
of the U. T. College of Medicine. He is a native of Macon, Ga. and received
his bachelor's degree from Vanderbilt University.
Susan
Bahary
Susan Bahary is an
internationally known artist who created the original War Dog Memorial in Guam. She is an
animal enthusiast who has produced numerous works of art with animal themes. Bahary lives
in Sausalito, California, where she also raises champion dogs. A native a New York, Bahary
completed the bachelor's degree from New York University in Manhattan.
