War Animals : The Unsung Heroes of World War II

Meet the forgotten members of the Greatest Generation. Today, war is a high-tech affair. The modern soldier relies on advanced weapons and communications technology as his essential support. But in World War II, soldiers relied on an entirely different kind of support—a kind of support soldiers have used since ancient times. Animals. Dogs, horses, and pigeons became World War II soldiers' best friends in battle, serving to carry weapons, wounded men, and messages through artillery fire. In War Animals , bestsellling author Robin Hutton brings the animal heroes of World War II to vivid life with the heroic true tales of: Famed pigeon G.I. Joe, who saved an Italian village and British troops by flying 20 miles in 20 minutes to carry a message to Allied forces; Chips, a German Shepherd trained as a sentry who attacked an Italian machine gun team, sustaining powder burns and saving his handler's life; ... "This book will delight both animal lovers and military buffs!" — Elizabeth Letts, bestselling author of The Eighty Dollar Champion Millions rallied to the cause of freedom against Nazism and the menace of Imperial Japan. But did you know that some of those heroes had fur, or feathers? War animals guarded American coasts against submarine attack, dug out Londoners trapped in bomb wreckage, and carried vital messages under heavy fire on Pacific islands. They kept up morale, rushed machine gun nests, and even sacrificed themselves picking up live grenades. Now Robin Hutton, the bestselling author of Sgt. Reckless: America's War Horse , tells the heart-warming stories of the dogs, horses, mules, pigeons—and even one cat—who did their bit for the war effort. American and British families volunteered beloved family pets and farm dogs to aid in the war effort; Americans, including President Roosevelt, bought honorary commissions in the reserves for lapdogs and other pets not suitable for military duties to "exempt" them from war service and raise money to defeat Hitler and Tojo. Many of these gallant animals are recipients of the prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal, the "Animals' Victoria Cross." In War Animals: The Unsung Heroes of World War II you'll meet: -Judy, the POW dog who helped her beloved human survive brutal Japanese prison camps -Cher Ami, the pigeon who nearly died delivering a message that saved American troops from death by friendly fire -Beauty, the "digging dog" who sniffed out Londoners buried in the wreckage of the Blitz—along with pets, including one goldfish still in its bowl! -Olga, the horse who braved shattering glass to do her duty in London bombings -Smoky, the Yorkshire terrier who did parachute jumps, laid communications wire through a pipe so small only she could navigate it, became the first therapy dog—and starred on a weekly TV show after the War -Simon, the war cat whose campaign against the "Mao Tse Tung" of the rat world saved food supplies and his ship's crew -Chips, who guarded Roosevelt and Churchill during the Casablanca Conference, and the only dog to earn a Silver Star for his heroics The shining loyalty and courage of these heroes is a testimony to the enduring bond between us and the animals we love. Today, War Is A High-tech Affair. The Modern Soldier Relies On Advanced Weapons And Communications Technology As His Essential Support. But In World War Ii, Soldiers Relied On An Entirely Different Kind Of Support--a Kind Of Support Soldiers Have Used Since Ancient Times. Animals. Dogs, Horses, And Pigeons Became World War Ii Soldiers' Best Friends In Battle, Serving To Carry Weapons, Wounded Men, And Messages Through Artillery Fire. In War Animals, Bestsellling Author Robin Hutton Brings The Animal Heroes Of World War Ii To Vivid Life With The Heroic True Tales Of: Famed Pigeon G.i. Joe, Who Saved An Italian Village And British Troops By Flying 20 Miles In 20 Minutes To Carry A Message To Allied Forces; Chips, A German Shepherd Trained As A Sentry Who Attacked An Italian Machine Gun Team, Sustaining Powder Burns And Saving His Handler's Life; Bing, A Paradog Who Jumped Out Of A Plane On D-day, Landed In A Tree, And Once On The Ground Helped His Handlers Locate The Enemy. A Heartwarming And Sometimes Even Hilarious History Of Bonafide Heroes Of Feather And Fur, War Animals Is A World War Ii Story You've Never Read Before.--provided By Publisher. War Dogs -- Lassie Goes To War -- You're In The Army Now. Coast Guard Too. Don't Forget The Navy -- And Hey, Marine Corps, Lookin' Good! -- Chips -- Devil Dogs Of The Marine Corps -- More Than Mascots -- Great Britain's War Dogs -- Home Front Heroes -- Judy -- War Birds -- Winged Warriors -- Britain's Bird Brigade -- War Horses (and Mules) -- Heroes With Hooves -- And A War...cat? -- The One And Only Simon -- Epilogue. Robin Hutton. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Meet the forgotten members of the Greatest Generation. Today, war is a high-tech affair. The modern soldier relies on advanced weapons and communications technology as his essential support. But in World War II, soldiers relied on an entirely different kind ofsupport'a kind of support soldiers have used since ancient times. Animals. Dogs, horses, and pigeons becameWorld War II soldiers' best friends in battle, serving to carry weapons, wounded men, and messages through artillery fire. InWar Animals, bestsellling author Robin Huttonbrings the animal heroes of World War II to vivid life with the heroic true tales of: Famed pigeonG. I. Joe, who saved an Italian village and British troops by flying20 miles in 20 minutes to carry a message to Allied forces; Chips, a German Shepherd trained as a sentry who attacked an Italian machine gun team, sustaining powder burns and saving his handler's life; Bing, a paradog who jumped out of a plane on D-Day, landed in a tree, and once on the ground helped his handlers locate the enemy. A heartwarming and sometimes even hilarious history of bonafide heroes of feather and fur, War Animalsis a World War II story you've never read before