Throughout history, animals have served alongside human soldiers in ways that showcase extraordinary bravery, loyalty, and intelligence.
From carrier pigeons delivering crucial messages through enemy fire to dogs detecting hidden explosives, these animal heroes have saved countless lives.
Their remarkable acts of courage during wartime have earned them official recognition, with many receiving medals typically reserved for human service members.
1. Sergeant Stubby: America’s First War Dog
Found as a stray on Yale University campus, this bull terrier mix became the most decorated war dog of World War I. Stubby learned to salute officers and warned his unit of incoming gas attacks and artillery fire.
During 18 months on the Western Front, he captured a German spy by biting him on the rear end and holding on until help arrived. Stubby returned home a national hero, meeting three presidents before his death in 1926.
2. Wojtek The Soldier Bear
Adopted as a cub by Polish soldiers in Iran, Wojtek grew into a 500-pound Syrian brown bear who became an official member of the Polish II Corps. He was given rank, serial number, and even drew a soldier’s pay and rations (mostly beer and cigarettes, which he loved).
During the Battle of Monte Cassino in Italy, Wojtek carried heavy ammunition boxes to the front lines. His image carrying an artillery shell became his unit’s official emblem.
3. Cher Ami: The Pigeon That Saved 197 Men
Flying through a hail of bullets during the 1918 Meuse-Argonne Offensive, this carrier pigeon delivered a message that saved a surrounded battalion known as the “Lost Battalion.” Shot through the breast and blinded in one eye, Cher Ami still completed his mission with a leg hanging by a tendon.
Army medics worked tirelessly to save him, even crafting a tiny wooden leg. For his heroism, France awarded him the Croix de Guerre with Palm.
4. Simon The Able Seacat
Aboard the HMS Amethyst during the Yangtze Incident of 1949, this black and white cat kept morale high while protecting food stores from an infestation of rats.
Despite being severely wounded when the ship was shelled by Communist forces, Simon continued his rat-catching duties. His perseverance helped the trapped crew survive a 101-day ordeal. Simon remains the only cat to receive the Dickin Medal, often called the “Animal Victoria Cross.”
5. Reckless: The Mare Who Became A Marine
Purchased from a Korean racetrack by a Marine lieutenant, this small Mongolian mare transported ammunition and wounded soldiers during the Korean War. In one day during the Battle of Outpost Vegas,
Reckless made 51 solo trips through enemy fire, carrying 386 rounds of ammunition weighing over 9,000 pounds. Wounded twice, she never stopped. The Marines made her a Staff Sergeant and awarded her two Purple Hearts and a Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal.
6. G.I. Joe: The Pigeon Who Prevented Friendly Fire
Racing against time, this blue-checked carrier pigeon flew 20 miles in just 20 minutes to deliver a message that prevented Allied forces from bombing an Italian town recently captured by British troops.
His message arrived just as bombers were about to take off. G.I. Joe’s swift flight saved over 1,000 people from certain death. In 1946, he received the Dickin Medal at the Tower of London—the only American pigeon to receive this honor.
7. Judy: Prisoner Of War And Survival Expert
As mascot of the HMS Gnat and Grasshopper, this English pointer survived the sinking of both ships during WWII. Judy later entered a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp alongside her human companions, where she found hidden food and warned of guard patrols.
The guards repeatedly tried to kill her, but fellow POWs kept her hidden. She was officially registered as a POW and given her own number. After liberation, Judy received the Dickin Medal for her extraordinary resilience.
8. Salty And Roselle: 9/11 Guide Dogs
When the Twin Towers were struck on September 11, 2001, these two Labrador guide dogs calmly led their blind owners down more than 70 floors through smoke, chaos, and falling debris. Neither dog hesitated despite the terrifying conditions.
Their steady nerves helped not only their owners but also others who followed their lead to safety. Both dogs were awarded the Dickin Medal in 2002, representing all the search and rescue dogs who served at Ground Zero.
9. Lucca: Bomb-Sniffing Marine Dog
During her six years of service with the U.S. Marine Corps, this German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix completed over 400 missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lucca protected troops by detecting explosives, leading to zero casualties during her patrols.
On her final mission in 2012, she discovered a hidden IED but was injured by a secondary device. Despite losing a leg, her handler credits her with saving countless lives. The UK awarded her the Dickin Medal in 2016.
10. Chips: The Dog Who Captured Italian Machine Gun Nest
During the 1943 invasion of Sicily, this Shepherd-Collie-Husky mix broke away from his handler and charged a hidden enemy machine gun nest. Chips attacked the Italian gunners, forcing four soldiers to surrender despite being burned by hot gun barrels.
Later that same day, he helped capture ten more enemy soldiers. Chips was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, and Purple Heart—though these were later revoked due to military policy against decorating animals.
11. Paddy: The Pigeon Who Announced D-Day Success
Flying through storms and enemy fire, this Irish carrier pigeon delivered the first news of the successful D-Day landings in June 1944. Paddy traveled 230 miles across the English Channel in just four hours and fifty minutes – the fastest recorded time of any military messenger pigeon during the war.
His message reached Allied Command five hours before any other communication method. For this remarkable achievement, Paddy received the Dickin Medal in September 1944.
12. Cairo: The Navy SEAL Dog
Equipped with tactical gear including night-vision goggles and bulletproof vest, this Belgian Malinois accompanied SEAL Team Six during the 2011 raid on Osama bin Laden’s compound in Pakistan. Cairo secured the perimeter and helped clear buildings, using his enhanced senses to detect any hidden threats.
President Obama specifically asked to meet Cairo after the mission. While his exact decorations remain classified, he received numerous commendations and became one of the most famous military working dogs in recent history.
13. Kuno: Special Forces Assault Dog
During a 2019 night raid against Al-Qaeda extremists in Afghanistan, this Belgian Malinois charged through a hail of gunfire to tackle a gunman targeting British Special Forces soldiers. Despite being shot in both hind legs, Kuno continued fighting until the threat was neutralized.
His actions changed the course of the mission and saved multiple lives. Severe injuries required partial amputation of one paw, but Kuno survived and received the Dickin Medal after his retirement with prosthetic limbs.