The National World War II Museum in New Orleans is paying tribute to the heroic activities of animals during WWII, from the Home Front to the Pacific. The “Loyal Forces: The Animals of World War II” exhibit will run from July 22 – October 17, 2010. “Loyal Forces” will examine four types of animals used by armies throughout the world from 1939 to 1945 – horses, mules, pigeons and dogs – and focus on each different animal’s specific usefulness and role within campaigns.

A large part of the exhibit will be dedicated to war dogs, including Smoky the Yorkshire terrier, who became a war heroine in New Guinea when engineers needed to run 70 feet of telegraph wire through an 8-inch culvert under an airfield. Corporal William Wynne tied one end of the wire to Smoky’s collar and had his buddies hold Smoky at one end of the culvert while he called her from the other.

Another story is that of Kurt the Doberman Pinscher who was killed by a mortar shell, but not before alerting his handler to Japanese soldiers lying in wait above the Asan Point beachhead on Guam.

The National World War II Museum celebrates the courage and sacrifice of the men, women and now animals who fought on the battlefront and the Home Front.

For further information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org