Animals who 'join up'
We've all heard/read the stories about animals at war. Horses, mules, dogs... recruited for work for armies, or sometimes just volunteers who adopted a unit and learned to 'run with it' in wartime. Carrying supplies, carrying cavalrymen, running the trenches with messages when radios just weren't reliable.
I am especially impressed about Staff Sergeant Reckless, a decorated warhorse who held official rank in the United States military. https://www.history.com/news/the-four-legged-marine-who-became-a-korean-war-hero]
But, until today, I never knew about the orphaned bear who adopted, and was adopted by, a group of Polish fighters in WWII. She was one of the squad and carried her weight by helping carry munitions.
Now, there's a play to tell the story.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4nd3n33yeo]
Making animals serve in war is hellish, yes, I agree. War is hell and we would do well to evolve beyond the need to fight, but it is a reality too often. When a free animal decides to take a side and serve along with the bi-peds, well, it is worth remembering. Maybe, someday, we will learn enough from the quadrupeds that we can stop all the fighting and be at peace.
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