The Case:
A World War II document collector from Kansas City, Kansas has a cryptic letter between a soldier and another military man.
The soldier explains that military investigators have questioned him about a man named Prestre - specifically about his character and qualifications as a dog trainer.
The writer is nervous, “Pardon my terrible typing … I was afraid one of the officers would come in … No one should open your letters … I think you can write to me safely.”
Our contributor wants to know why the U.S. military was investigating Prestre, and what the dogs were being trained to do.
The military put great effort into a new “War Dogs” program during WWII. What went wrong on Cat Island?
History Detectives travels to this remote island to unlock the mystery.
Season 7, Episode 1
Season 8, Episode 11
Detective:
Tukufu Zuberi
Location:Gulfport, Mississippi and Fort Lee, Virginia
War Dog Letter
View declassified Cat Island files from the National Archives in Washington, D.C. that reveal the details and extent of the war dog experiment.
Related Content
Technique:
Technique:
Technique:
Technique:
Related Links
Explore
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Civil War Sabotage?
The steamship Sultana exploded one night in 1865, killing more than 1,800 people. Was the disaster a result of Civil War sabotage?
-
Also in Season 7
Black Tom Shell
Is this shell from a devastating act of foreign sabotage on American soil?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Carson Family Secrets
Is this book a Carson family heirloom?
-
Also with Tukufu Zuberi
Birth Control Box
Could this unusual wooden box be an early contraceptive device?
-
Related Investigation
Japanese House
How did a Japanese house come to be at the San Francisco World's Fair just months before WWII began?
-
Also in Season 8
Face Jug
What does this ceramic face reveal about the Middle Passage and a captive people’s search for identity?
Comments
This is a place for opinions, comments, questions and discussion; a place where viewers of History Detectives can express their points of view and connect with others who value history. We ask that posters be polite and respectful of all opinions. History Detectives reserves the right to delete comments that don’t conform to this conduct. We will not respond to every post, but will do our best to answer specific questions, or address an error.