A World War II pilot with ties to Oklahoma State University made good on a promise he made 54 years ago to a combat comrade.
Retired Major Lorren Perdue was in Stillwater on Friday, October 19, 2007, to honor his former flying companion, a black Australian shepherd named Ace.
When Ace died in November 1953, Perdue was allowed to bury him under the wind tee at the Stillwater airport terminal. Perdue vowed to have a plaque made in Ace's honor and now he has.
The 85-year old arrived in a Cessna jet at the Stillwater airport where a ceremony was held to honor him and Ace. An American flag waved over Ace's grave.
"I got tears in my eyes when I saw that flag on that grave, because I loved that dog," Perdue said of the pet he nicknamed "Acey-Boy."
In 1943, Perdue rescued Ace, a puppy sick with distemper, from an airstrip in Nadzab, New Guinea. After the puppy was cured by a physician with the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron. Perdue used an Army K-training manual to train Ace to be a flying war dog, following both voice and hand signals.
"He took to the airplane like some dogs like taking rides in pickup trucks," Perdue said. "He was my right-hand man."
Ace soon became the mascot of his squadron and rode with Perdue on missions over New Guinea as they dropped paratroopers or supplies to troops fighting in the jungles and bring back the wounded and dead.
After the war, Ace rode on missions to fly civil engineers over Japan to inspect air fields. The aircraft was the first to land in Tokyo following World War II. Ace guarded the C-46 plane nonstop for a week. Then the group flew to inspect airfields in Russia, Korea, China and the Philippines.
Together, Perdue and Ace logged more than 500 hours in the Southwest Pacific. At the end of the war, Ace was sent via cargo ship and train to Perdue's parents in Montgomery, Alabama.
"My father met Ace at the train station and took him home," he said. "My mother told me that Ace went straight to my bedroom and slept there until I returned shortly before Christmas 1945."
Perdue later was assigned to the Air Force ROTC staff at OSU, then called Oklahoma A&M College. There Ace continued to fly in Air Force and civilian aircraft. He was a licensed Air Force war dog and wore a "dog tag" on his collar. He accumulated more than 1,000 hours of flight time and accompanied his owner to squadron reunions across the country.
But Ace wasn't entirely fond of his rather tame life in the states. Whenever the shepherd saw a plane, he would run to his owner, tail wagging, ready to fly.
In 1953, Ace had a heart attack and was rushed to the OSU veterinary medical center. He died the next day, but Perdue said he is thankful for the efforts by OSU veterinarians.
Friday's service was a fitting tribute to both Perdue and Ace, said Dr. Michael Lorenz, dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
"It's a second homecoming of sorts for Ace and comes at a time when this country is recognizing our heroes, the veterans of World War II," Lorenz said.
Perdue, who lives in South Florida and operates a real estate school, was joined by two of his children and family friends.
He presented a bronze plaque that will be hung in the airport's aviation museum.
The inscription ends with: "There will no more missions for Ace, in war or peace, and for Major Perdue, there will always be something missing each time he goes up."
What is a war dog? America's war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines, tunnels and weapons caches. They warned troops about ambushes and saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. America's war dogs bravely served in World War II. Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
Several war dog memorials have been built, including monuments at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery in Guam, March Air Force Base, California, and the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.
Retired Major Lorren Perdue was in Stillwater on Friday, October 19, 2007, to honor his former flying companion, a black Australian shepherd named Ace.
When Ace died in November 1953, Perdue was allowed to bury him under the wind tee at the Stillwater airport terminal. Perdue vowed to have a plaque made in Ace's honor and now he has.
The 85-year old arrived in a Cessna jet at the Stillwater airport where a ceremony was held to honor him and Ace. An American flag waved over Ace's grave.
"I got tears in my eyes when I saw that flag on that grave, because I loved that dog," Perdue said of the pet he nicknamed "Acey-Boy."
In 1943, Perdue rescued Ace, a puppy sick with distemper, from an airstrip in Nadzab, New Guinea. After the puppy was cured by a physician with the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron. Perdue used an Army K-training manual to train Ace to be a flying war dog, following both voice and hand signals.
"He took to the airplane like some dogs like taking rides in pickup trucks," Perdue said. "He was my right-hand man."
Ace soon became the mascot of his squadron and rode with Perdue on missions over New Guinea as they dropped paratroopers or supplies to troops fighting in the jungles and bring back the wounded and dead.
After the war, Ace rode on missions to fly civil engineers over Japan to inspect air fields. The aircraft was the first to land in Tokyo following World War II. Ace guarded the C-46 plane nonstop for a week. Then the group flew to inspect airfields in Russia, Korea, China and the Philippines.
Together, Perdue and Ace logged more than 500 hours in the Southwest Pacific. At the end of the war, Ace was sent via cargo ship and train to Perdue's parents in Montgomery, Alabama.
"My father met Ace at the train station and took him home," he said. "My mother told me that Ace went straight to my bedroom and slept there until I returned shortly before Christmas 1945."
Perdue later was assigned to the Air Force ROTC staff at OSU, then called Oklahoma A&M College. There Ace continued to fly in Air Force and civilian aircraft. He was a licensed Air Force war dog and wore a "dog tag" on his collar. He accumulated more than 1,000 hours of flight time and accompanied his owner to squadron reunions across the country.
But Ace wasn't entirely fond of his rather tame life in the states. Whenever the shepherd saw a plane, he would run to his owner, tail wagging, ready to fly.
In 1953, Ace had a heart attack and was rushed to the OSU veterinary medical center. He died the next day, but Perdue said he is thankful for the efforts by OSU veterinarians.
Friday's service was a fitting tribute to both Perdue and Ace, said Dr. Michael Lorenz, dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
"It's a second homecoming of sorts for Ace and comes at a time when this country is recognizing our heroes, the veterans of World War II," Lorenz said.
Perdue, who lives in South Florida and operates a real estate school, was joined by two of his children and family friends.
He presented a bronze plaque that will be hung in the airport's aviation museum.
The inscription ends with: "There will no more missions for Ace, in war or peace, and for Major Perdue, there will always be something missing each time he goes up."
What is a war dog? America's war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines, tunnels and weapons caches. They warned troops about ambushes and saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. America's war dogs bravely served in World War II. Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
Several war dog memorials have been built, including monuments at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery in Guam, March Air Force Base, California, and the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.
A World War II pilot with ties to Oklahoma State University made good on a promise he made 54 years ago to a combat comrade.
Retired Major Lorren Perdue was in Stillwater on Friday, October 19, 2007, to honor his former flying companion, a black Australian shepherd named Ace.
When Ace died in November 1953, Perdue was allowed to bury him under the wind tee at the Stillwater airport terminal. Perdue vowed to have a plaque made in Ace's honor and now he has.
The 85-year old arrived in a Cessna jet at the Stillwater airport where a ceremony was held to honor him and Ace. An American flag waved over Ace's grave.
"I got tears in my eyes when I saw that flag on that grave, because I loved that dog," Perdue said of the pet he nicknamed "Acey-Boy."
In 1943, Perdue rescued Ace, a puppy sick with distemper, from an airstrip in Nadzab, New Guinea. After the puppy was cured by a physician with the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron. Perdue used an Army K-training manual to train Ace to be a flying war dog, following both voice and hand signals.
"He took to the airplane like some dogs like taking rides in pickup trucks," Perdue said. "He was my right-hand man."
Ace soon became the mascot of his squadron and rode with Perdue on missions over New Guinea as they dropped paratroopers or supplies to troops fighting in the jungles and bring back the wounded and dead.
After the war, Ace rode on missions to fly civil engineers over Japan to inspect air fields. The aircraft was the first to land in Tokyo following World War II. Ace guarded the C-46 plane nonstop for a week. Then the group flew to inspect airfields in Russia, Korea, China and the Philippines.
Together, Perdue and Ace logged more than 500 hours in the Southwest Pacific. At the end of the war, Ace was sent via cargo ship and train to Perdue's parents in Montgomery, Alabama.
"My father met Ace at the train station and took him home," he said. "My mother told me that Ace went straight to my bedroom and slept there until I returned shortly before Christmas 1945."
Perdue later was assigned to the Air Force ROTC staff at OSU, then called Oklahoma A&M College. There Ace continued to fly in Air Force and civilian aircraft. He was a licensed Air Force war dog and wore a "dog tag" on his collar. He accumulated more than 1,000 hours of flight time and accompanied his owner to squadron reunions across the country.
But Ace wasn't entirely fond of his rather tame life in the states. Whenever the shepherd saw a plane, he would run to his owner, tail wagging, ready to fly.
In 1953, Ace had a heart attack and was rushed to the OSU veterinary medical center. He died the next day, but Perdue said he is thankful for the efforts by OSU veterinarians.
Friday's service was a fitting tribute to both Perdue and Ace, said Dr. Michael Lorenz, dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
"It's a second homecoming of sorts for Ace and comes at a time when this country is recognizing our heroes, the veterans of World War II," Lorenz said.
Perdue, who lives in South Florida and operates a real estate school, was joined by two of his children and family friends.
He presented a bronze plaque that will be hung in the airport's aviation museum.
The inscription ends with: "There will no more missions for Ace, in war or peace, and for Major Perdue, there will always be something missing each time he goes up."
What is a war dog? America's war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines, tunnels and weapons caches. They warned troops about ambushes and saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. America's war dogs bravely served in World War II. Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
Several war dog memorials have been built, including monuments at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery in Guam, March Air Force Base, California, and the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.
Retired Major Lorren Perdue was in Stillwater on Friday, October 19, 2007, to honor his former flying companion, a black Australian shepherd named Ace.
When Ace died in November 1953, Perdue was allowed to bury him under the wind tee at the Stillwater airport terminal. Perdue vowed to have a plaque made in Ace's honor and now he has.
The 85-year old arrived in a Cessna jet at the Stillwater airport where a ceremony was held to honor him and Ace. An American flag waved over Ace's grave.
"I got tears in my eyes when I saw that flag on that grave, because I loved that dog," Perdue said of the pet he nicknamed "Acey-Boy."
In 1943, Perdue rescued Ace, a puppy sick with distemper, from an airstrip in Nadzab, New Guinea. After the puppy was cured by a physician with the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron. Perdue used an Army K-training manual to train Ace to be a flying war dog, following both voice and hand signals.
"He took to the airplane like some dogs like taking rides in pickup trucks," Perdue said. "He was my right-hand man."
Ace soon became the mascot of his squadron and rode with Perdue on missions over New Guinea as they dropped paratroopers or supplies to troops fighting in the jungles and bring back the wounded and dead.
After the war, Ace rode on missions to fly civil engineers over Japan to inspect air fields. The aircraft was the first to land in Tokyo following World War II. Ace guarded the C-46 plane nonstop for a week. Then the group flew to inspect airfields in Russia, Korea, China and the Philippines.
Together, Perdue and Ace logged more than 500 hours in the Southwest Pacific. At the end of the war, Ace was sent via cargo ship and train to Perdue's parents in Montgomery, Alabama.
"My father met Ace at the train station and took him home," he said. "My mother told me that Ace went straight to my bedroom and slept there until I returned shortly before Christmas 1945."
Perdue later was assigned to the Air Force ROTC staff at OSU, then called Oklahoma A&M College. There Ace continued to fly in Air Force and civilian aircraft. He was a licensed Air Force war dog and wore a "dog tag" on his collar. He accumulated more than 1,000 hours of flight time and accompanied his owner to squadron reunions across the country.
But Ace wasn't entirely fond of his rather tame life in the states. Whenever the shepherd saw a plane, he would run to his owner, tail wagging, ready to fly.
In 1953, Ace had a heart attack and was rushed to the OSU veterinary medical center. He died the next day, but Perdue said he is thankful for the efforts by OSU veterinarians.
Friday's service was a fitting tribute to both Perdue and Ace, said Dr. Michael Lorenz, dean of the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine.
"It's a second homecoming of sorts for Ace and comes at a time when this country is recognizing our heroes, the veterans of World War II," Lorenz said.
Perdue, who lives in South Florida and operates a real estate school, was joined by two of his children and family friends.
He presented a bronze plaque that will be hung in the airport's aviation museum.
The inscription ends with: "There will no more missions for Ace, in war or peace, and for Major Perdue, there will always be something missing each time he goes up."
What is a war dog? America's war dogs were trained to recognize booby traps, mines, tunnels and weapons caches. They warned troops about ambushes and saved lives by dragging wounded soldiers to safety. America's war dogs bravely served in World War II. Vietnam and Operation Desert Storm.
Several war dog memorials have been built, including monuments at the United States Marine Corps War Dog Cemetery in Guam, March Air Force Base, California, and the National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Georgia.
