Nine-year-old dog George was honored with a posthumous* bravery medal last week for saving five New Zealand children from an attack by two pit bulls*.

The medal from New Zealand’s main animal welfare* agency, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), came after U.S. Vietnam veteran* Jerrell Hudman said he was sending his Purple Heart medal to George’s owner after hearing of the dog’s bravery.

George, who had a heart problem, won fame after defending five children from the pit bulls in the small North Island town of Manaia. The two pit bulls rushed at the five children on the street, forcing George to fight the much larger dogs as the children escaped.

George was badly injured by the two pit bulls and later had to be put down* because of his injuries. The two pit bulls were also put down.

The SPCA medal is usually awarded to people for their bravery in defending animals.

“George was a very brave little dog who almost certainly prevented severe injury, if not death, to at least one of the children,” SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger said.

“It’s truly tragic that he paid with his own life for his act of courage.”

Hudman, 58, of Austin, Texas was a U.S. marine* for 30 years and said he decided to send his Purple Heart to George’s owner Alan Gay after reading the news on the Internet because the dog was “a little warrior*.”

The Purple Heart is awarded to those killed or injured fighting for the U.S. military.