Hutton - War Animals

More praise for

WAR ANIMALS

I cant think of another author who has done more to honor the animals of war than Robin Hutton. In War Animals , she brings to life the forgotten stories of countless brave military heroes heroes with wings, hooves, and paws, whose bravery and sacrifice should never be forgotten. Hutton brings her sharp eye, careful research, and lively writing style to honor our animal friends who fought alongside their human partners. This book will delight both animal lovers and military buffs!

Elizabeth Letts, bestselling author of The Eighty-Dollar Champion and The Perfect Horse

Robin Hutton has performed above and beyond the call of duty in gathering these incredible stories of service animals during wartime into one handy volume. These dogs, horses and birds (plus one amazing cat!) show over and over that bravery, dedication, and loyalty arent just human traits. Every page brings another marvel.

Robert Weintraub, author of No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog, and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage and Survival in WWII

With a sense of humor and attention to historical detail and context, author Robin Hutton brings stories of animal warriors to the pages of War Animals . Readers who think they know their World War II history will discover new facts. Animal fanciers will delight in the tales of smart brave dogs and other critters pressed into military serviceand maybe shed a tear or two. And we have increased respect for the handlers who worked with these talented animals on the home front, in the Pacific, and in Europe. A great read!

Lin Ezell, Director, National Museum of the Marine Corps

Robin Huttons telling of the story of animals used in war brings to light a history unknown to many. Huttons work tracks the use of dogs, pigeons and horses starting with WWII, and tells the compelling, heartwarming, and sometimes tragic stories of the animal heroes that have served in the military.

Toni Kiser, co-author of Loyal Forces: The American Animals of World War II and Assistant Director for Collections Management at the World War II Museum in New Orleans

A heartwarming experience. Hutton gives readers faith that our humanity comes not only from our own element, but also from the creatures who give unconditionally, and in times of warthe beloved animals we put our unconditional faith in.

Scott Huesing, U.S. Marine Corps major (retired) and author of Echo in Ramadi: The Firsthand Story of U.S. Marines in Iraqs Deadliest City

Copyright 2018 by Robin Hutton

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages in connection with a review written for inclusion in a magazine, newspaper, website, or broadcast.

Regnery History is a trademark of Salem Communications Holding Corporation

Regnery is a registered trademark of Salem Communications Holding Corporation

Cover design by John Caruso

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ISBN 978-1-62157-658-7

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To those who had no voice or choicethank you for your service, your sacrifice, and your steadfast devotion

All of them, whatever the nature of their duty or their service, shared the heat and burden of the long days of peril and defeat, of danger and victory. All of them made their contribution to our escape from great evils. We should remember them.

DOROTHEA ST. HILL BOURNE , Allied Forces Mascot Club

I n war brief, crucial instantsdefining momentsoccur when someone in defiance of obvious danger steps up to do what is necessary because its the right thing to do, regardless of personal peril. In the throes of such a moment the response is impulsive, the action without hesitation.

In that moment, a hero is born.

Only later, after the crisis has passed and there is breathing space, can we reflect on how that pivotal moment perhaps altered the course of history.

EXCLUSIVE COMPANY

To me our greatest heroes are the military men and women who have served and continue to serve in the defense of our country.

In John 15:13 the King James Bible appears to anticipate by two thousand years the spirit of the Congressional Medal of Honor, Americas highest military award: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

The Medal of Honor celebrates acts of gallantry and valor above and beyond the call of duty against an enemy of the United States. Created in 1862 during the Civil War, the honor has been awarded to nearly thirty-five-hundred American heroes, including some engaged in the ongoing War on Terror.

As of 2018, all but one recipient have been men. The sole exception was the pioneering Civil War physician Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. During World War II, 440 servicemen of the Greatest Generation earned the distinction of becoming Medal of Honor recipients.

Across the pond, the Victoria Cross is the highest honor for gallantry and extreme bravery a British or Commonwealth serviceman can receive. Dating to 1856, the Cross was introduced by Queen Victoria, initially to acknowledge valor during the Crimean War. By late 2017, the Victoria Cross had been bestowed on 1,358 Britons, including 181 veterans of World War II.

Heroes are a diverse bunch. Regardless of where theyre from, they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes, especially in wartime, heroes can even come with feathers and wings, or fur and four legs. In 1943, amidst the horrors of the Second World War, a British veterinary association introduced a new military decoration. It honored not human defenders of the British Empire but a select, unheralded, decidedly different group of patriots: heroic animals who served the cause of Great Britain and the Allies during wartime.

THE PDSA DICKIN MEDAL

This prestigious British award is the PDSA Dickin Medal, which some call the Victoria Cross for Animals. PDSA stands for the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals, a venerable charity serving animals in the United Kingdom. The elegant bronze Dickin medallion, inscribed For Gallantry, We Also Serve, is the highest honor an animal can achieve for bravery in battle. While Americas Congressional Medal of Honor and Britains Victoria Cross are comparable to each another, the United States still has no equivalent to the Dickin honor.

Through 2017, the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals PDSA Dickin Medal has been presented to sixty-nine actual war heroes and one honorary one; of these, fifty-five served with Allied forces during World War II. The list of World War II honorees includes thirty-two pigeons, nineteen dogs, three horses, and one cat (yes, a cat!).

This book tells many of their stories.

DICKIN MEDALISTS STATESIDE

Although it is a British honor, the Dickin counts among its World War II-era recipients a feathered American veteran. GI Joe was a blue checked splash cock (male pigeon) who served with the United States Army Pigeon Service. Humans usually dont show pigeons much respect. But GI Joe, who received his Dickin in 1946, is an exception. Hes considered the greatest war bird in American history.