A Memorial Day Remembrance for Armed Forces Animals
Dogs and cats – and pigeons, horses, oxen and even elephants – have served with Army and Navy service persons for much of history. These brave animals have not only provided essential services and moral support for soldiers and sailors under wartime conditions far from home, they’ve saved lives and sometimes given their own lives for the humans who cared for them.
The HMS Hermione, a British Royal Navy anti-aircraft cruiser during WWII, acquired a ship’s mascot shortly after it entered the war in 1939: Convoy, a black and white cat who was not only officially listed with the ship’s crew, but assigned a sailor’s kit including a pint-sized hammock. While the Hermione patrolled the Mediterranean, Convoy kept the crews’ spirits uplifted. In 1942, the Hermione was attacked by a German U-205 and struck by a torpedo; 87 crewmen and Convoy went down with the ship.
TBC or That Bloody Cat was found on the River Clyde in 1941 by a crewman aboard the HM SGB-7, a Scottish steam gunboat as a black and white kitten almost frozen to death. However, with care TBC soon recovered and proved himself a warrior, running to the bridge snarling when the Action Alarm sounded. TBC also enjoyed his ration of rum. When the ship was docked, he typically used the torpedo tubes to disembark. One day prior to the SGB-7’s sinking in 1942, he slipped, fell into the ocean and drowned.
During the Vietnam War, a German shepherd named Kaiser was assigned to D Company, First Marines, 3rd Marine Division as a scout dog. Together, he and his handler did combat patrols and military operations. In 1966, they were ambushed by the Viet Cong. Kaiser was shot and didn’t survive his wounds. He was the first dog killed during the Vietnam conflict.
Greeting Card Universe joins you in celebrating all our wartime heroes – four legged or two legged – with our unique Memorial Day cards. Order on-line, add your personal message and we’ll send your cards through the mail the next business day. Or order on-line and get free in-store pick-up, usually in 1 hour, at most Target and Bartell Drug Stores.
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