Name: Roy

Breed: German shepherd/Labrador retriever mix

Age: 5 to 5 1/2  yrs.

Voice: Jeff Guidry (https://youtu.be/9pDpNTr7LDM)

Parents: Unknown

Siblings (biological): Unknown

Adopted sibling: Dennis

Friend(s): Agnetha, Frida (c) Anna Andersson, Gale (WW)

Mate: None; Not looking at the moment.

Likes: Nature, peace and quiet

Dislikes: Conflict, loud noises (especially gunshots)

Personality: In his youth before he was sent overseas for the war, he was active, playful, and naive. During the war, he was fearless. After he was returned to his owner, having experienced the horrors of war, he is completely different. He is irritable and sometimes has sudden outbursts of anger. He has difficulty concentrating on anything, and is usually hyper-vigilant. Due to frequent nightmares, he has trouble falling asleep at night. As well, he has a great fear of loud noises, especially gunshots. He usually prefers to keep to himself, but doesn't mind the company of others.

History: Roy was born in early 1941 in the small town of Sladeville, Tennessee. Life was quiet and uneventful until 1942, when his owner donated him for the war effort.

     Roy shipped out to the War Dog Training Center in Front Royal, Virginia, for training as a sentry dog. He served as a tank guard dog with the US Army's 3rd Infantry Division in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany.

     On one occasion, Roy alerted to an impending ambush. Then, with a phone cable attached to his collar, Roy ran back to base, dodging enemy gunfire so that the endangered platoon could establish a communications line and ask for the backup they so desperately needed.

     His finest hour came early one morning in 1943 on a beach in Sicily. As he and his handler proceeded up the beach, they came under fire from a disguised pillbox. Roy broke free from his handler and launched himself right into the pillbox. Moments later several bitten and surrendering Italian soldiers emerged, all shepherded by a very determined Roy. Though wounded in the melee, Roy returned to duty that night, and alerted troops to an approaching group of Italians. This allowed his handler and squad time to capture all of them.

     Roy was awarded a Silver Star for valor, and a Purple Heart for his wounds. The newspapers heralded his exploits. Unfortunately, the press attracted the attention of the Commander of the Order of the Purple Heart. He complained to both President Roosevelt and the War Department, claiming that by so honoring Roy, they were demeaning all the men who have been awarded a Purple Heart. Roy's medals were taken away, he was given an honorable discharge, then returned to his owner in Sladeville. No military dog has received an official decoration since.

     Since his return to the US, Roy hasn't been the same. During his time overseas, he saw and heard things he will never be able to forget

     About a week after his return, Roy went to (and watched) a Singin' Strays show to try and forget about the hell he'd been through in the past few years. After the show was over, he went to compliment Gale, one of the performers, and the two have been friends ever since. That same day, Roy's owner adopted a young stray he named Dennis.

Relation to FatH: His adoptive brother is the great grandson of Cash and Dixie; his friend Gale is Dixie's son.