Famous War Animals: 10 Animal War Heroes Who Saved Lives

Some of the most famous war animals never chose to be soldiers. They carried messages, ammunition and wire, warned of gas attacks and kept frightened crews going. These ten animal war heroes saved lives from the Western Front to Korea, and their stories are worth remembering every Veterans Day.

1. Cher Ami: The Pigeon Who Saved the Lost Battalion

In October 1918, an American battalion was trapped in the Argonne Forest and being hit by its own artillery. Its last homing pigeon, Cher Ami, carried the message that stopped the shelling and helped save 194 men. By the famous account, the bird arrived shot and missing a leg. Read the full Cher Ami story.

2. Sergeant Stubby: The Stray Who Went to War

Stubby was a stray bull terrier mix who joined the 102nd Infantry Regiment in World War I and served in 17 battles on the Western Front. He warned soldiers of gas attacks and found the wounded. His sergeant rank is usually described as informal, but General Pershing honored him, and his preserved body is at the Smithsonian.

3. Smoky: The Four-Pound Yorkie Who Did a Three-Day Job

Smoky was a tiny Yorkshire terrier found in a foxhole in New Guinea in 1944. In the Philippines, the army needed a telegraph wire run through a 70-foot pipe, just 8 inches wide, under an airfield. Smoky carried the wire through in minutes, sparing soldiers about three days of digging. She later visited wounded soldiers and is often called one of the first therapy dogs.

4. Sergeant Reckless: The Marine Corps War Horse

Reckless was a small Mongolian mare who carried ammunition for the U.S. Marines in Korea. During the 1953 Battle of Outpost Vegas she made 51 trips in a single day, often alone and under fire. She was promoted to staff sergeant. See Sergeant Reckless.

5. Wojtek: The Bear Who Became a Corporal

Polish soldiers adopted a bear cub in Iran in 1942. Wojtek was officially enlisted so he could travel with them, rose to corporal, and soldiers said he helped carry ammunition at Monte Cassino. He spent his last years at Edinburgh Zoo. Read Wojtek the Bear.

6. Judy: The Dog Who Was a Prisoner of War

Judy, an English pointer, was a ship's dog who survived two sinkings and a Japanese prison camp, where she became the only dog known to be officially registered as a prisoner of war. See Judy the Pointer.

7. Simon: The Ship's Cat Who Won the Dickin Medal

Simon was wounded when HMS Amethyst was shelled on the Yangtze River in 1949, then kept the ship free of rats through a months-long siege. He is still the only cat to receive the Dickin Medal. Read Simon of HMS Amethyst.

8. Comanche: The Horse Who Survived the Little Bighorn

Comanche was found alive with seven wounds after the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876. The 7th Cavalry ordered that no one ride him again, and he lived out his life as an honored veteran at Fort Riley. See Comanche.

9. Sergeant Bill: The Goat Who Headbutted Soldiers to Safety

Bill was a goat from Broadview, Saskatchewan, who went to war with Canada's 5th Battalion in World War I. He reportedly shoved soldiers into a trench just before a shell landed. He was also court-martialed for eating the battalion's paperwork. More animals with ranks: 8 Animals Given Official Military Ranks.

10. Unsinkable Sam: The Cat of Three Shipwrecks

Sam is said to have survived the sinking of three ships in 1941, including the German battleship Bismarck. Historians can't confirm every part of his story, which makes him the legend of this list. Read what we know about Unsinkable Sam.

How Do We Honor Animal War Heroes Today?

Since 1943, the British charity PDSA has awarded the Dickin Medal to animals for bravery in war, including dogs, pigeons, horses and a cat. Memorials such as the Animals in War Memorial in London honor the millions of animals who served. On Veterans Day, their stories are a reminder that courage comes in every size.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most famous war animal?

Cher Ami and Sergeant Stubby are two of the most famous in the United States. Cher Ami carried the message that saved the Lost Battalion in 1918, and Stubby served in 17 battles in World War I.

What animals were used in war?

Horses and mules carried soldiers and supplies, dogs carried messages and found the wounded, pigeons carried messages, and ships kept cats to control rats. Some units also kept mascots like goats and even a bear.

Do animals get medals for bravery in war?

Yes. The PDSA Dickin Medal, created in 1943, honors animals for bravery in military conflict. Sergeant Reckless also received two Purple Hearts from the U.S. Marines.

Related Stories

• 8 Animals That Have Been Given Official Military Ranks
• Cher Ami: The Pigeon Who Flew Through a Battlefield to Save 194 Soldiers
• Sergeant Reckless: The Marine Corps Horse Who Went to War

For Animal History Fans

Get one true animal story in your inbox each week. Sign up at the bottom of this page.

Sources

• Wikipedia: Cher Ami: the Lost Battalion and the legend of the flight
• Wikipedia: Sergeant Stubby: his 17 battles, gas warnings and the status of his rank
• Wikipedia: Smoky (war dog): her size, the airfield pipe and her hospital visits
• Wikipedia: Sergeant Reckless: Outpost Vegas and her promotions
• Wikipedia: Sergeant Bill: the 5th Battalion goat
• Wikipedia: Dickin Medal: the PDSA medal for animal bravery

More true animal stories: From Paw to Tail Blog

Cover photo: Sergeant Stubby photograph via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.