Throughout history, animals have been vital in warfare, showing remarkable bravery and loyalty. Therefore, we honor not only the human heroes who sacrificed so much for their countries but also their four-legged, feathered, and hooved companions.
As we prepare for Memorial Day celebrations, let’s remember these remarkable creatures who saved countless lives, delivered vital messages, and provided comfort during humanity’s darkest hours. Their stories remind us that courage comes in many forms.
1. Sergeant Stubby: The Decorated Dog Of World War I
Found wandering around Yale University in 1917, this stray bull terrier became the most decorated war dog in American history. Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment for 18 months in France, participating in 17 battles and four major offensives.
His remarkable abilities included warning his unit of gas attacks and incoming artillery shells. Once, he even caught a German spy by the seat of his pants! After the war, Stubby met three presidents and received numerous medals for his service.
When he passed away in 1926, his preserved remains were displayed at the Smithsonian, where his legacy continues to inspire visitors.
2. Wojtek The Soldier Bear: Poland’s Unlikely Warrior
Adopted as a cub by Polish soldiers in Iran during WWII, Wojtek grew into a 500-pound Syrian brown bear with extraordinary habits. He didn’t just travel with the troops – he became an official soldier with his own rank and serial number!
During the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, Wojtek amazed everyone by carrying heavy artillery shells to the front lines. No one trained him to do this – he simply observed other soldiers and mimicked their actions.
After the war, Wojtek lived at Edinburgh Zoo where Polish veterans would visit him, sometimes tossing him cigarettes which he would eat rather than smoke.
3. Cher Ami: The Pigeon Who Saved 197 Lives
A tiny hero with a wingspan of just 20 inches, Cher Ami delivered 12 critical messages within the American sector at Verdun, France during World War I. Her most famous mission came in October 1918 when she saved the “Lost Battalion” of the 77th Infantry Division.
Shot through the breast, blinded in one eye, and with a leg hanging by a tendon, she still flew 25 miles in 25 minutes to deliver her message. That determination saved 197 men from friendly fire.
For her bravery, the French awarded Cher Ami the Croix de Guerre with Palm. She survived her wounds but died in 1919 from their effects.
4. Reckless: The Horse Who Outranked Her Marines
Purchased from a Korean racetrack for $250 during the Korean War, this small Mongolian mare became a legend among the Marines. Staff Sergeant Reckless carried ammunition to the front lines and wounded soldiers back to safety – often without a handler.
During the Battle of Outpost Vegas in 1953, she made 51 solo trips in a single day, carrying 386 rounds of ammunition while enemy fire exploded around her. When wounded twice, she kept going, navigating the treacherous terrain on her own.
Eventually promoted to Staff Sergeant, Reckless outranked many of her human comrades and was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
5. G.I. Joe: The Pigeon Who Prevented A Bombing
G.I. Joe wasn’t just any messenger pigeon – he was responsible for the single most outstanding pigeon flight in World War II. In October 1943, British troops had captured an Italian town that was scheduled to be bombed by Allied forces.
When radio communications failed, G.I. Joe flew 20 miles in an astonishing 20 minutes with the message to cancel the bombing. He arrived just as bombers were warming up their engines, saving over 1,000 British soldiers and countless Italian civilians.
For this remarkable feat, G.I. Joe became the first pigeon to receive the Dickin Medal, the animal equivalent of the Victoria Cross.
6. Judy: The Only Canine Prisoner Of War
A purebred English pointer, Judy began her military career as the mascot of a British gunboat in China. When Japanese forces captured her ship during WWII, she became the only dog officially registered as a prisoner of war.
In the harsh prison camp, Judy sniffed out food for starving prisoners and warned them of approaching guards and dangerous wildlife. She formed a special bond with airman Frank Williams, who shared his meager rations with her and taught her to bow to Japanese guards to avoid being killed.
After surviving multiple shipwrecks and years in captivity, Judy was awarded the Dickin Medal for her extraordinary courage and endurance.
7. Simon: The Steadfast Ship’s Cat
Aboard the HMS Amethyst during the Chinese Civil War in 1949, a black and white cat named Simon performed duties that no human could match. When the ship was shelled and many crew members killed, Simon was badly wounded but continued his vital role – controlling the rat population that threatened both food supplies and the wounded.
Despite his injuries, Simon caught rats daily, even bringing them to sailors in the sick bay as “gifts.” His presence boosted morale during the ship’s 101-day ordeal trapped on the Yangtze River.
Simon became the only cat to receive the Dickin Medal, though he sadly died in quarantine shortly after returning to England.
8. Chips: The Dog Who Captured Italian Soldiers
A mix of German Shepherd, Collie, and Siberian Husky, Chips was donated by his family for war service in 1942. During the invasion of Sicily in 1943, he broke away from his handler and charged a hidden machine gun nest that had pinned down his platoon.
Chips attacked the gunners, forcing four Italian soldiers to surrender! Though wounded in the confrontation, he helped guard the captives that same night. For his actions, Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart – though these were later revoked due to military policy against decorating animals.
His unit awarded him their theater ribbon with battle stars anyway.
9. Smoky: The Yorkie Who Saved Lives And Spirits
Weighing just four pounds, this tiny Yorkshire Terrier became an unlikely war hero after being found in a New Guinea jungle during WWII. Corporal William Wynne purchased Smoky for two Australian pounds and carried her in his backpack throughout the Pacific campaign.
Her most famous feat came when engineers needed to run telegraph wire through a 70-foot pipe beneath an airfield. Too small for humans to navigate, Smoky pulled the wire through, saving 250 men from enemy fire and three days of dangerous digging.
She also served as a therapy dog in hospitals, performing tricks for wounded soldiers and boosting morale with her playful antics.
10. Caesar: The Parachuting Messenger Dog
A German Shepherd with nerves of steel, Caesar served with British paratroopers during World War II. Trained to jump from aircraft with a special harness, he participated in the critical Operation Colossus in 1941, becoming one of the first military dogs to deploy by parachute behind enemy lines.
Caesar’s primary mission was carrying messages between scattered paratrooper units when radio silence was necessary. He navigated through gunfire and across unfamiliar terrain with remarkable accuracy, often being the only link between isolated squads.
His exceptional sense of direction saved countless lives, as he could find his way back to headquarters even in the darkest nights.
11. Salty And Roselle: The 9/11 Guide Dogs
On September 11, 2001, these two Labrador Retrievers guided their blind owners down more than 70 flights of stairs in the World Trade Center. Roselle led Michael Hingson from the 78th floor of the North Tower, while Salty guided Omar Rivera from the 71st floor.
Amid chaos, smoke, and terrified crowds, both dogs remained focused on their vital tasks. They navigated through debris, over water from sprinklers, and past firefighters rushing upward, never losing their composure or determination.
Their heroism during America’s darkest hour earned them both the Dickin Medal and reminds us that service animals perform critical roles during wartime and national emergencies.
12. Lucca: The Bomb-Sniffing Marine With No Losses
A German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix, Lucca completed over 400 missions during three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the U.S. Marine Corps. Her specialty was detecting IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and weapons caches, saving countless lives in the process.
What makes Lucca’s record truly remarkable is that no human casualties ever occurred during her patrols. Her final mission in 2012 ended when she triggered an IED, resulting in the loss of her front leg, but she survived and was adopted by her former handler.
In 2016, Lucca received the Dickin Medal, becoming the first U.S. Marine Corps dog to receive this prestigious honor.