Calculator The Dog (A Heartwarming Dog Story)

This is the story about Calculator the dog — a heartwarming dog story. This is a true story about a crippled dog that won the hearts of tough soldiers, and went on to become thought of as a member of their elite community as well as the mascot for the military base.

Calculator The Dog

Calculator the dog showed up at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1920’s. No one knew where “Calc” (as he became known) came from, but this crippled mongrel dog wasted no time in winning over all the men from the lowliest privates to the commanders of the base. He came by the name Calculator due to the fact he was crippled and walked in the manner of a dog who could do mathematics: “he put three down while carrying one”.

Known as somewhat of a moocher, he freely traveled the base and had a great affection for the vehicles members of Fort Benning drove. Calc enjoyed traveling in the officers cars when they drove back and forth from the base to Columbus, Georgia. This became such a common thing that the officers would not leave Columbus for the trip back to base until they had driven by the Ralston Hotel to see if Calc was waiting for a lift back to base.

This unlikely adopted mascot loved one and all, showing no favoritism towards any one person or group. He enjoyed a meal from any willing source on the base and slept when he became tired no matter where this spot might be. He participated in base ceremonies as well as other troop details and functions.

The personnel on base were so fond of Calculator the dog they donated money for his memorial after he passed away. This memorial was originally located at the front of the Infantry School but later moved to the National Infantry Museum where it resides to this day. The simple but eloquent inscription on the memorial reads as follows: “Calculator–Born ?; Died August 29, 1923. He Made a Better Dog of us All.”