Animals have fought side by side with soldiers since before the Roman Empire. And they've offered more than just protection. Animals of all kinds have shown fearless dedication to helping the people who protect our country as well as provided them with comfort and hope during times of real adversity. For instance, Appollo, a dog specializing in search and rescue, helped firefighters locate missing people during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York. While the ways in which animals have helped our men in uniform are infinite, here are a few of their stories.
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Cher Ami the Pigeon
Cher Ami (French for "dear friend") was more than just a homing pigeon for American soldiers during World War I. Against all odds, and with a shattered leg and a bullet through the breast from enemy fire, Cher Ami delivered a message that saved 194 soldiers in the 77th Infantry Division. As a result, the brave carrier pigeon was given the "Croix de Guerre," a French and Belgian medal awarded to allies for their heroic service. Cher Ami died in 1919. Today, his body is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, in the exhibition "The Price of Freedom: Americans at War."
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Stubby the Dog
Sgt. Stubby, who served with the 102nd Infantry Division and the 26th Yankee Division during World War I, was one of the most famous war dogs in U.S. history. Stubby served 18 months in Europe, participated in 17 battles and is the only dog to receive a sergeant ranking. During the war, he warned American soldiers of incoming chemical attacks and spies and accompanied the men on raids and patrols. The canine sentry became an instant American hero and upon his return home led parades, met three presidents, and became a lifelong member of the YMCA and the American Red Cross. Stubby was also Georgetown University's mascot.
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Smoky
Smoky, a 4-pound Yorkshire terrier, joined America's finest during World War II. Soldiers found the little dog in a foxhole in New Guinea. Smoky is more than a war hero -- she provided comfort to soldiers in times of adversity. While her size might make her seem dainty, Smoky survived 12 combat missions, 150 air raids and a typhoon in Okinawa. In addition, she entertained soldiers with tricks and was one of the first therapy dogs.
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Chips
Considered the most decorated dog in World War II, Chips, a German Shepherd mix, saved his handler when Italian soldiers began shooting at the duo with a concealed machine gun during the July 1943 invasion of Sicily. Chips gallantly rushed the Italian stronghold and captured four Italian soldiers, enduring powder burns and a scalp wound from the raid. Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower personally thanked Chips for his bravery and loyalty to the soldiers.
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Treo
Stationed in Helmand, Afghanistan, Treo, a black Labrador retriever with the 104 Military Working Dog Support Unit, saved countless British soldiers twice when he sniffed out explosives hidden by the Taliban. In 2010, Treo was awarded the Dickin Medal (considered the Victoria Cross for animals) for his service to the soldiers in Afghanistan. He was the 63rd animal to receive the award, which is given by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, a British veterinary charity, and has his own statue in the Animals in War Memorial. Located in London's Park Lane, the memorial commemorates animals that have served with British troops and Allied forces.
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Appollo the Dog
While Appollo didn't serve in any wars, he received the Dickin Medal for his tireless dedication to helping recover victims following the Sept. 11 terror attacks. A member of the K-9 unit of the New York Police Department, the German shepherd arrived at the World Trade Center with his handler 15 minutes after the attack, making him the first search-and-rescue dog on-site after the collapse of the Twin Towers. The Dickin Medal, which Appollo received on behalf of all the dogs involved in the rescue operation, also recognizes animals that assist with the search of fallen soldiers and survivors. Appollo's medal read, "Faithful to words of command and undaunted by the task, the dog's work and unstinting devotion to duty stand as a testament to those lost or injured."
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Rags
One of the most celebrated canine veterans of World War I, Rags began his military career as a mascot of the 1st Infantry Division. This mixed-breed terrier also served as a carrier dog, delivering notes during dangerous attacks. Although he served in the U.S. Army, Rags was found as a stray on the streets of Montmartre in Paris by his owner and handler, Pvt. James Donovan. In October 1918, both Rags and Donovan were injured in a gas attack by the Germans; Rags lost his vision in one eye and hearing in one ear as a result of the attack, and Donovan eventually succumbed to his injuries in early 1919. When Rags passed away in 1936, at the age of 20, he was buried in Silver Spring, Md., with full military honors.
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Sinbad
Chief Petty Officer Sinbad served in the Coast Guard during World War II and is known internationally for his service. A mixed-breed puppy, Sinbad was adopted by the men of the Coast Guard cutter Campbell and made an official member of their crew, complete with all the necessary documents and uniforms. He even had his own bunk! This charming canine sailor is known not only for his military service to the United States, but also for the disturbances he caused while abroad. One of the sailors described Sinbad as "bad as the worst and as good as the best of us." Sinbad made such an impact on the Coast Guard that Chief Specialist George R. Foley published Sinbad's biography during the war.
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Samantha
Samantha, a potbellied pig, became the mascot of Coast Guard Squadron 1 Division 11 during the Vietnam War. The crew was based in the Gulf of Thailand on Phu Quoc Island and received Samantha after treating the young son of a village chief. The small town did not have the medical supplies necessary to treat the child's infection, so the Coast Guard provided antibiotics and Samantha was later given to the squadron as a gift in return. Samantha was loved by the crew, who fought hard to hide her as she grew but eventually had to give her away to a loving couple.
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Simon
Simon, the only cat awarded the prestigious Dickin Medal for animal gallantry, was severely wounded when the Royal Navy's HMS Amethyst was attacked by the Chinese, during an event known as the Yangtze Incident. Before the attack, the black-and-white cat proved his hunting skills by keeping the ship's rat population in check and providing much needed comfort to injured seamen. Once he recovered from his injuries, Simon continued to stick by his wounded crew mates and returned to his rat-catching duties. He was awarded the Dickin Medal posthumously, in 1949.
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![Cher Ami the Pigeon Cher Ami (French for "dear friend") ...](http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/military-animals-pictures1.jpg "Cher Ami the Pigeon Cher Ami (French for "dear friend") ...")
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