Dogs have assisted Marines in battle officially since World War II and continue to enhance warfighting techniques on today’s battlefronts. In May 2019, the Museum will open a new exhibition that explores the loyalty, bravery, and sacrifices made by the warfighters’ “best friend.”
This exhibition combines sculptures by artist James Mellick with combat art from the collections of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Navy, along with artifacts related to Marine Corps working dogs.
Mellick’s wood-carved dogs are symbolic of the sacrifices made by canine and human warriors alike. The 28 works of combat art by 21 artists capture military dogs at work around the globe, from the jungles of the Pacific during WWII through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Artifacts that tell specific stories of Marine Corps dogs and handlers round out this tribute to war dogs.
The Museum thanks the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation for their support of this exhibition, which will be in place through September 2019.
