K9C SINBAD

Photos: U.S. Coast Guard

By Vinny Del Giudice
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

This is a tale about a genuine sea dog. The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Campbell adopted a mixed-breed puppy named Sinbad in 1937 and he attained celebrity status during World War Two, according to the USCGC Campbell Association.

Sinbad was formally enlisted as a member of the cutter's crew complete with paw print card, paperwork, Coast Guard uniform and bunk and attained the rank of K9C - Chief Petty Officer, Dog.

He stood watch on board the Campbell (WPG-32) through the global conflict and was assigned to damage control duty below deck during combat.

When Campbell suffered heavy damage after battling a German submarine, Sinbad remained onboard with other "essential personnel" as the cutter was towed to Canada for repair. Captain James Hirschfield believed that nothing could befall the Campbell if its beloved mascot accompanied the crew, Wikipedia said.

Newspapers barked such headlines as "MASCOT MUTT HELPS LICK SEA WOLF PACK," according to the website War History Online.

Although he served honorably, Sinbad ran into trouble as any old seadog might, causing an "international incident" in Greenland involving sheep and another diplomatic crisis in Casablanca involving a soiled rug.

Sinbad was retired in 1948 to the light station at Barnegat, New Jersey, and died there in 1951. He is buried at the light station site.

“Like all mascots, Sinbad has helped to lighten the strain of life at sea,” said Admiral Russell Waesche, who served as Coast Guard commandant from 1936 to 1946.