Animals, of course, should never be used in war. Some who have, however, are pretty rad (the animals themselves, not the war part). I’ve talked before about Corporal Wojtek, the WWII bear soldier. Here are a few others!

Staff Sergeant Reckless (best name ever) was a member of the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. She earned multiple honors, including two Purple Hearts, not least for the Battle for Outpost Vegas, in which she made 51 trips by herself to resupply the front lines.

That’s Staff Sergeant Badass to you.

Sergeant Stubby, a dog of “uncertain breed,” served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment in France during WWI. He had a specially designed gas mask to protect him and warned his fellow troops of incoming gas attacks and artillery, in addition to locating wounded soldiers for rescue and allegedly once capturing a German spy.

AKA Sergeant Good Boy

Gustav the pigeon, albeit unranked, was service number NPS.42.31066 with the RAF and played a vital role in WWII, first by carrying messages out of occupied Belgium and then by being the first to provide word of the D-Day landings in Normandy to the British (traveling 150 miles to do so). He was awarded the Dickin Medal (the animal version of the Victoria Cross), which can be seen on display at the D-Day Museum in Portsmouth.

Give me some sugar, baby.

Have a great Day Thread, Avocados!