Animals in War
The dogs, pigeons, horses, bears, cats, and even one kangaroo who served alongside soldiers.
4 articles
Animals in War
The Carrier Pigeon That Saved 194 Trapped Soldiers
A one-legged pigeon named GI Joe flew 20 miles in 20 minutes to stop an American bombing run on British troops
On December 18, 1943, in a small Italian village called Calvi Vecchia, 194 British soldiers of the 56th Division were trapped in a farmhouse surrounded by Germa…
Animals in War
The War Dog Who Warned His Unit of an Ambush
A mixed-breed dog named Chips led his platoon into a trap and then out of it again, saving 12 American lives
In the mountains of France, 1944, a mixed-breed stray named Chips had been adopted by the men of the 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment. Chips was not an of…
Animals in War
The Horse That Crossed the Atlantic: The Story of Reckless
A Mongolian mare became the only horse to serve in the US Marine Corps during the 20th century
Note: While the Korean War was after WWII, Reckless story began with a Korean orphan, A-Ha Kim, in 1949. The Korean War directly followed WWII and the same vete…
Animals in War
The Dog Who Stormed Omaha Beach
A stray terrier-mix rode ashore on L-Day and never left the unit until the war ended in Berlin
On June 6, 1944, a small terrier-mix was found wet and shivering on deck of a Navy landing craft approaching Omaha Beach. The crew called him Omaha. He went ash…