It wasn't uncommon for submarines during WWII to have dog mascots to help boost morale to the men aboard. Garbo was one of them.
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| Garbo, USS Gar mascot |
The mixed breed puppy boarded the USS Gar (SS-206) in Hawaii between the sub's patrols. The crew took an immediate liking to her, named her Garbo and made her their mascot. Garbo learned her way around the sub, earned the respect of the men, made her home in the forward torpedo room, and would bark on the bullnose whenever the sub got under way. According to Motor Machinist Mate Second Class Jim Bunn, "She owned the boat and knew it."
Garbo was given a collar with the submarine's insignia, and a star was added with each successful patrol. Because of her playful manner, even under the heaviest depth charge attacks, Bunn said, "She should have gotten a medal for keeping our spirits and morale up when we needed it most." Between patrols, Garbo would drink beer with her shipmates - sometimes a little too much.
One night, while the sub was running on the surface during a war patrol in the Palau Islands, the Commanding Officer began an overboard search when their mascot vanished into the darkness after stepping off the cigarette deck. The sub circled enemy waters until someone finally spotted Garbo below the bridge, safe on the main deck.
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| Jim Ellis holding Garbo's pups |
While en route to Ulithi, Garbo gave birth to two puppies - the father was the mascot to the USS Tambor (SS-198). The puppies were later traded to other submarines for cases of beer. Garbo stayed with the sub for the rest of its war patrols, then returned to the States to live with Chief Motor Machinist Mate Jim Ellis.
