This article from a San Diego newspaper is quite interesting in areas other than the dog mascot "TIPPY". The reporter indicates that the Liberty Hound "Chief Canine" had been on the ship about five years, give or take. He also gives facts of  "Tippy" going on five tours on the Alaska Resupply Runs. All the information I have been given is that the LST 1126 was suppose to make three of these runs but one was cancelled.

Now we have to wonder is this was one of those "Sea Stories" with a little flavor added, did the ship actually make five tours to Alaska, or was the actual number two.

I owned a few Spitz during my younger years and even later when I took in one when my brother passed away. I can attest that they are smart, determined, strong, faithful, and trainable for most any task. I hunted squirrels with mine, and people came from miles away to borrow him for deer drives. His determination to stay on the trail of a wounded deer or one being chased was the feature they loved. He would bark until called off, whereas other dogs would stop barking and just chase until they became tired. There was no stop to my dog, tired or not.

I can imagine "Tippy" attempting to jump to another ship (LST 1138) to meet up with a female dog there. (We had men on the ship in the later years who would have made the same attempt to jump to another ship had there been women over there.)

Also, I took my Spitz on small paddle boats in a lake nearby my home. He was always willing and anxious to get aboard, but never helped with the paddlin'.

The reporter speaks of the ship's liberty boat pulling into 28th street landing. Does anyone recall that landing. I can only recall 4th street and Broadway landings.

Can anyone shed any light to the number of actual Alaska Resupply Runs the LST 1126 made during her early years? If you know of others not listed on this website, please contact me Buddy@LST1126.com.

(Thanks to Vernon Drewa, a shipmate of the LST 1126 during the "Early Years" for this article he sent to me)
What's a nice Dog like you,
doing in the NAVY?
Don't tell me you volunteered!!
(Article furnished by Vernon Drewa LST 1126)

Here's "GEEDUNK", mascot of the USS Numitor ARL 17, a converted LST on which my Uncle Horry served during WWII.
I have no information on the mascot's heritage, but looks  kinda like he has some Spaniel and possibly some German Sheperd.
His appearance leads one to believe he was a Boson ..... he's using the normal position of them......

Here's the mascot of the LST 125, the ship on which SeaBat's Dad served during WWII in the Pacific.

The mascot's name was appropriately "TURN-TO". His rating or rank is unknown.

Here he's heading for a swim. I'm told it took very little coaching to get him to joining in on swim-time.
Here's my Eskimo Spitz "MICKEY" in 1946 in my front yard. This is where he would be waiting each day for us when we came walking down the dirt road home from school. Just under the tree behind him is a silhouette of my bike, upside-down. My uncle came through a few days prior and said he would fix some loose or broken spokes on my bike. Unfortunately he headed on north to pursue his job as Caddy for the professionals at a tournament before he finished the job......