Dogs of war
Given just a moment of study, every discarded photo offers up its small mystery. I’m sure that’s why I like them so much — the tantalizing wisp of a story interrupted in the middle.
This one puzzles me entirely. I’m not familiar enough with military uniforms to tell for certain what country or even what era these belong to. On the back of the photo, the handwriting is almost illegible and partially crossed out, but I can make out “Blackhawk Reception, Coliseum” and the name of the group’s “mascot,” a horribly offensive racial epithet.
The ugly slur, the huddle of gray uniforms — they give this photo a strange, ominous feeling to me. And other details as well: the dirty hand of the soldier on the left, the greasy dark smears on the metal plates, and of course the white bandage on the dog’s paw.
What happened to her? What happened to them all? The worst part and the best part is there’s no way to know, not now.
September 20th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Looks like french WWI uniforms – http://app.infopia.com/img/image/fp/vpid/2150614
Fascinating collection, thank you for sharing!
October 4th, 2009 at 10:06 am
I don’t think that is a bandage…It looks like a white patch of fur. He looks like my dog Bevel.
November 16th, 2009 at 1:38 am
“Okay, boys, who wants Fricassée de [insert horribly offensive racial epithet here]?!! Henri already tried her and she is guud. Smile for zee cameragh!”