38 A Hero of a Mutt: Homer

Jack sent Alice this photo of himself with Homer.

Germany, March 16, 1945

Dearest Alice,

Honey I sure get a kick out of Homer. He sure is an independent little fellow. He has one of the little dogs in the Sqd very jealous and he sure takes it out on him. He has seen quite a bit of Europe too. He and I have been in England, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, Holland & now Germany.[1]

Germany, March 29, 1945

Dearest Alice,

I was on guard this morning from 2:30 till 6:00. Homer is fine and still around chasing. He is sure going to be daddy to a lot of little puppies around this part of Europe but I have never seen any of his babies yet as we have never stayed around long enough in one place to see them Ha. [2]

One of Homer's buddies, Skipper 

Homer even earned mention in the 160^th’s official history for June 1945.[3]

Our private K-9 Corps was increased by one as a new member “joined” us. A typical Scotty, like the pictures in the newspaper ads, he is a friendly and intelligent little pooch, well behaved and well trained, with evidence of a good background. However, his spec number and former organization are unknown. The other members of the Corps, with Homer as C.O., put him through the third degree in a nosey manner and they accepted him as a new recruit.

Two new puppies join the Corps.

Germany, Sept 30, 1945

Dearest Alice,

Homer got all banged up today someplace. He looks as if he either got hit by a car or jumped off of a moving car. He sure is skinned up. Word got around about him pretty quick. We have him in our room here and there must have been 25 fellows in to see him already. You would think he was a human being Ha He sure is a good little fellow and has lots of friends. I don’t know if I can get him home or not. [4]

Jack's plane and his dog Homer

Homer’s importance not only to Jack but to all the men in his squadron inspired this poem by fellow crewman John C. Grady.[5]

We travelled the world, in World War Two,

            In panes, trains, boats and cars,

We fought in some Foreign Countries

            And also some Foreign Bars!

Remember the days in Beauvechain,

            That Battle did not need a Trench,

But to really survive, and stay alive

            You did need to know some French!

We fought that war and we won that war,

            But I think you know it’s true

‘Twas not our manpower, our might or our money

            But our Dog Homer, that pulled us through.

Homer did not return to the U.S. with Jack. His whereabouts when the 363^rd departed for the U.S. are unknown. One thing is for sure: he left a lasting legacy in the memory of his G.I.s and a Homer lineage throughout Europe that probably lives on to this day.

Homer, C.O. of the 160th's "K-9 Corps"

For two years now Jack had been away from Alice. The days with little work to do dragged on, heightening the anticipation of being together with her again. How much longer would he have to wait?

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[1] Jack J. Kellar (Germany), letter to “Dearest Alice” [Alice (Streeter) Kellar] (Santa Rosa, California), 16 March 1945, excerpt.

[2] Jack J. Kellar, letter to “Dearest Alice,” 29 March 1945, excerpt.

[3] 380^th Fighter–160^th Tac. Rcn. Squadron History, February 1943–August 1945 ([unknown place]: [unknown publisher], printed by A. Roßbach, Eschwege, Germany, [1945]), 129.

[4] Jack J. Kellar, letter to “Dearest Alice,” 30 September 1945, excerpt.

[5] John C. Grady (Dover, New Hampshire), “Hi Alice and Jack!,” poem on the occasion of Jack and Alice Kellar’s fortieth wedding anniversary, March 1982, excerpt.