During WWII, an aircraftman captured by the Japanese bonds with Judy, a dog who helped the soldiers survive and was the only dog recognized as a POW during WWII. BRIEF SYNOPSIS Frank Williams (20) decides to leave home and join the military. He befriends a war dog, Judy, a pointer. When Frank and his unit are captured by the Japanese, Judy helps the men survive by detecting bombers, finding water, stealing fruit, helping them to the boat, and alerting them to danger. Frank’s relationship with Judy motivates Frank’s will to live. He and the men sneak Judy with them from location to location, when told she must be left behind. When they are imprisoned at a POW camp, Frank comes up with a plan to convince the Japanese commander to declare Judy an official …show more content…
Their ship is hit by a torpedo and Judy helps the men make it to the boats, but is separated from Frank. They are eventually reunited at the POW camp. The war comes to an end and the men are rescued. Frank vows to care for Judy and refuses to leave her behind. However, he’s told that Judy needs to be quarantined for six months. Back at home, Frank attempts to go on with his life. He discovers that the woman he cared about moved on with her life and has a child. His brother was killed in the war. His mother can’t understand his nightmares. Finally, Frank and Judy are reunited. Judy receives a medal of honor. Frank cares for Judy until she passes away from a tumor. Judy was the only dog declared a prisoner of war. A memorial was created for her. STORY COMMENTS GUNBOAT JUDY is a dramatic, character-drive story based on true events. The story follows the bond between a soldier and a war dog, who helped each other survive being captured by the Japanese. The goal is survival and the stakes are life and death. The story explores the bond between man and beast. Smartly, sometimes the humans are more beast-like than the dog, who is more