Smoky the Yorkshire terrier was tiny, small enough to sit comfortably in cupped hands.
But what she lacked in size, she made up for in courage and compassion.
Running up and down the corridors of the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital during the dark days of the war in the Pacific, licking faces and performing tricks, she became the world's first post-traumatic stress therapy dog.
A memorial statue of the plucky pup was today unveiled at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, as a way of honouring all war and service animals.
Governor Penelope Wensley said Smoky helped countless suffering soldiers at a time when post-traumatic stress disorder was not well understood.
“As she went from bed to bed, visiting allied and, I believe, enemy soldiers alike, she provided not just momentary pleasure and amusement with her tricks, but something else – great comfort, and deeper solace to the patients who were affected both physically and mentally by the trauma of war,” said Governor Wensley.
The story of Smoky's war adventures and achievements might have remained hidden if it wasn't for a random encounter at a Los Angeles pet store.
Senior Constable Nigel Allsopp of the Queensland Police bomb squad was looking for a coffee in Laguna Beach while holidaying in November last year, when he noticed a statue of a terrier sitting in a soldier's helmet.
A war dog historian, he began making inquiries, and soon found out Smoky was a true Australian war hero.
Born in Queen Street, she wound up in Papua New Guinea as an army mascot after her owner was deployed to the front. But then, in 1942, her life changed.
“She was found abandoned in a mud trench,” said Senior Constable Allsopp.
“The man who found her hated dogs, so he sold her to American Corporal Bill Wynne, and thus began a 14-year friendship.”
Mr Wynne is still alive, now aged 96.
Senior Constable Allsopp said Smoky was credited with 12 combat missions, including a heroic chicken run on Luzon in the Philippines.
“Japanese snipers were shooting at soldiers trying to take a telephone wire across a runway, so the wire was tied onto Smoky's collar, and she was sent down a very small drain pipe to the other side where they were able to connect the wire and call in air support,” he said.
“It's estimated Smoky saved hundreds of lives that day.”
When Corporal Wynne was injured, the commanding officer in charge of the field hospital, Dr Charles W. Mayo (whose parents founded the Mayo Clinic), recommended Smoky be allowed to stay with him to aid his recovery.
Later, when Mr Wynne was stationed in Brisbane as part of General Douglas MacArthur's team, hospital staff allowed Smoky the run of the wards, realising the great comfort and joy she brought to suffering patients.
This was decades before formal research began into the benefits of animal therapy.
Smoky continued went on to star in 35 television programs when Mr Wynne returned to the States, before finally dying in 1957.
Senior Constable Allsopp says her owner still mourns her loss to his day.
“She was his best friend, basically, as all animals are in service,” he said.
Linda Shaw brought her Yorkshire terrier, Perry, along to today's ceremony, complete with his own helmet to sit in.
Ms Shaw understood why Smoky would have been such a comfort to suffering soldiers.
“Typical terriers are active, alert and very intelligent,” she said.
“And because they're so small, they just snuggle up to you.”
Police horses, police and AFP sniffer dogs, two donkeys and a half-dozen homing pigeons were also present at the statue's dedication, as the speakers read poems about the bonds handlers form with their furry and feathery partners.
The president of the ADF Tracker and War Dogs Association, Vietnam veteran Ian Benhall, said quarantine rules of the time meant the loyal black labradors that served in Vietnam were not allowed to return to Australia, and were left instead with ex-patriots in Saigon.
He said that was tough on their handlers.
“When the boys came home and they had to leave the dogs behind, it was like leaving your brother behind, a member of your family, because you bonded that hard in the 12 months you were there,” he said.
Veteran John Quane, who served with the 1RAR tracking team based in Nui Dat, said the love never goes away.
“I've got two dogs now, and one happens to be a black labrador,” he said.
