Dog Names that Start with Si

Sinbad was a Rottweiler mix and member of the United States Coast Guard who spent 11 years (1937 to 1948) at sea on the Coast Guard Cutter U.S.S Campbell during WWII, and he became part of a huge campaign. He started out as a gift for one of the crew’s girlfriends, but she could not take him because her apartment did not allow dogs. So, the crewmember, Chief Boatswain’s Mate Blackie Roth, brought him back on the boat with him when his leave was over. 

Because no crew member would officially own up to Sinbad for fear of reprimand, he became a stowaway, but the Captain agreed to let him stay if the crew agreed to take care of him. They even had him put his paw print on an enlistment form and gave him a uniform to officially make him part of the Coast Guard. His rank was Dog 1st Class and he wore his uniform proudly, drank coffee and whiskey with his mates, played cards, had his own bunk and battle station, and even got in trouble while on leave in Greenland for chasing sheep. 

During one battle in 1943, the Campbell and its crew battled six German submarines that were trying to attack them and even sank one of them. The ship was badly damaged during the battle and had to be towed back to port for repairs with all unnecessary personnel asked to leave the ship. Sinbad was one of those who stayed on board because many of the crew believed that while he was on board, the ship was unsinkable. 

After six years as Dog 1st Class, he was promoted to Chief Dog after helping to keep morale up during the wartime service. He also received five battle stars and six campaign ribbons for serving proudly during battle. In 1946, when they were docked in Charleston for repairs, Sinbad went for his first visit to New York City where he was welcomed with a 24-piece Coast Guard Band. They took him in a jeep to the Coast Guard Headquarters where the New York Times held a “press conference” with the proud pooch.

Besides running around chasing sheep and playing cards with his mates, Sinbad also enjoyed playing “washers” with the crew. The crewmembers would take turns balancing a metal washer on Sinbad’s nose, and then he would flip it in the air and then grab it in his mouth. When he retired, a bronze statue was made of him to place in the mess hall. However, they put a rawhide bone on his nose instead of a washer.