Smoky the Brave - by Damien Lewis (Hardcover)

About the Book

Documents the story of the U.S. military's first therapy dog, a four-pound Yorkshire Terrier noted for remarkable acts of courage, including her famous jump from a plane using a specially designed parachute.

Book Synopsis

The extraordinary, touching true story of Smoky, the smallest--and arguably bravest--dog of World War II

In February 1944, as Japanese military advances threatened to overwhelm New Guinea, a tiny, four-pound Yorkshire Terrier was discovered hiding in the island's thick jungles. A total mystery as to her origins, she was adopted by US Army Air Force Corporal William "Bill" Wynne, an air-crewman in a photo reconnaissance squadron, becoming an irreplaceable lucky charm for the unit. When Smoky saved Wynne's life by barking a warning of an incoming kamikaze attack, he nicknamed her the "angel from a foxhole."

Smoky's exploits continued when she jumped for the unit in a specially designed parachute and famously joined the aircrews flying daring sorties in the war-torn skies. But her most heroic feat was running a cable through a seventy-foot pipe no wider than four inches in places to enable critical communication lines to be run across an airbase which had just been seized from the enemy, saving hundreds of ground-crew from being exposed to enemy bombing.

In recognition of her efforts, Smoky was awarded eight battle stars. Smoky the Brave brings to vivid life the danger and excitement of the many missions of World War II's smallest hero.

Review Quotes

"A heart warming and uplifting story of tiny paws and stupendous bravery"--Bear Grylls


"A well-researched biography in the war dog genre."
--Library Journal

"How a plucky pooch helped with the war effort."
--Washington Times

"How a tiny Yorkshire terrier became a WWII hero."
--New York Post

"Thoughtful...A welcome perspective on life in the Pacific Theater."--Booklist

About the Author

Damien Lewis is a lifelong dog lover and award-winning writer who spent twenty years reporting from war, disaster, and conflict zones for the BBC and other global news organizations. He is the bestselling author of more than twenty books, many of which are being adapted into films or television series, including military history, thrillers, and several acclaimed memoirs about military working dogs. Lewis lives in Dorchester, England, with his family and retired assistance dog black Labrador Moxie.