World War II Woman

A Marine Named Toby

During World War II Joel had two members of his family in World War II. His father was in the Merchant Marines and his dog was in the Marines.

His dad was an oiler on a tanker. While unloading fuel in North Africa, the ship was struck by a torpedo or mine. Without ballast, the tanker bobbled in the sea for awhile and finally returned to Marseilles for repair or scrap.

At the end of the war, Joel’s dad received a letter of appreciation thanking him for his service. Except for the Marines, the Merchant Marines had the greatest casualty rate.

Joel’s dog, Toby, was a Doberman Pincer, purchased in Parkersburg, West Virginia by his dad in 1940 for the family, then living in Punxsutawny, Pennsylvania. Toby enlisted (or was enlisted) and sent to Parris Island for training where he became a real Marine Devil Dog. Toby, a scout dog, was tattooed with the number 254 and assigned to Marine Brownlee.

Brownlee and Toby were in the battle of Pelilalu Island in the Pacific Theater. They lived in the same foxhole and ate the same food rations for weeks. Because of his alertness, Toby saved the Marine’s life on more than one occasion.

It was only natural that Brownlee wanted to keep Toby when the war concluded, however the family wanted him back also. After detraining, Toby was sent home by train. He was starved and gobbled down one sandwich after the other.

Although Toby was gentle, he remained a one-family dog and was kept fenced in. He died at the age of 16 and was buried under an oak tree on the family property.

The family still has Toby’s official discharge papers.

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