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Cpl. Enoch relates story of lovable, lazy ‘G.I.’ dog

The dramatic story of Prop-Wash, a typical G.I. dog is related here in a letter from Corporal James F. Enoch of the army, located at Ardmore, Oklahoma, to his little niece, Alice Jean Enoch, who makes her home with Cpl. Enoch’s sister, Mrs. Lillian McCormick of John Street, Parkersburg.

He describes the pooch as an ugly, lazy mutt who endeared himself to all the soldiers on the base, then met a tragic death in old age … but not without a fight on the part of his loving “G. I.” pals.

Cpl. Enoch, in beginning the story of the loveable dog, writes: I have been intending to write and tell you the story of one of our “G.I.” dogs here at the base. The story ended last week on a note of tragedy but the boys will always remember the story of old “Prop-Wash.”

He was a big, old, ugly mutt who was here at the base when we came down last October, and he soon became a favorite with all the boys. I guess maybe because he was so ugly and lazy, in fact, strictly G.I. He was named Prop-Wash because he liked to sit on the ramp behind the props of a plane when they were testing the engines. On hot days he would park behind a plane and sit in the cool breeze till the engines were shut off, then he would move to another.

Too Lazy to Walk

The old boy was too lazy to walk much and he soon learned that if he stood along the street some G.I. in a jeep or truck would pick him up. We have a bus on the ramp that hauls the mechanics up and down to their work as the ramp is over a mile long. It is just a flat-topped platform and moves no more than ten miles an hour. The old fellow would ride on this taxi for hours on end and every time a G.I. would jump on the bus Prop-Wash would stick his nose right in his face. The only time he ever walked much was on Sunday when we had our review. Then he walked right behind the band all the way down to the ramp, pass in review, and march back. I guess the old-timer could not hear very well so he kept right near the band. Our base commander didn’t like this and Prop-Wash was no favorite of his. But the soldiers got a big kick out of it.

But the dog was headed for serious trouble. Two weeks ago he was sitting on a pile of lumber watching the civilian carpenters build a barracks. Some soldiers were helping on the job. When they wanted a board, they would move the “old inspector” to one side. But one of the civilians jerked a board out from under him and Prop-Wash nailed him right through the hand. It did not hurt the guy much but it scared him and he complained. The C.O. ordered that Prop-Wash must be shot. Several of the boys asked him to give the dog the right to stand a court-martial. Several officers agreed to sit on the board and the trial was held in an old unused barracks.

Had MP Guard

Prop-Wash was defended by a second lieutenant who was a lawyer in civilian life. He did a great job and we thought for a while that the old boy would get free. He sat through the whole two hours of the trial under armed guard, an MP carrying a .45, and he seemed to be much impressed because everyone was so serious. He just looked at first one and then the other and when his name was mentioned he would wag his stubby tail. But the board found him guilty of several crimes and sentenced him to death. An MP was detailed to perform the execution. I had to go to work so I missed the final scene, but several of the boys went up the hill and saw it. They said he was G.I. to the last – tried to bite the MP who put the blindfold on him.

The boys buried him in a little grave near the hospital and put up a marker which said, “Prop-Wash … he gave his life for democracy, May 18, 1944. He was a good Joe!!”

The Parkersburg Sentinel,

July 7, 1944

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.