Updated September 23, 2021 9.1K votes 1.2K voters 81.1K views
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Vote up the most impressive military animals.
Some of the animals on this list gave their lives for their country, some survived the most heinous terrorist attack on American soil, and they were all handsomely awarded for their valor. This list of the most decorated animals in military history is sure to set your heart a flutter and make your tear ducts tremble with emotion.
Vote on your favorite military animal, and leave us a comment letting us know how many times you would pet your favorite, pooch, kitten, pigeon, or war horse. We’re willing to bet it’s over a million times.
Probably the most famous war dog, Stubby was found as a stray on the Yale campus in 1917, and smuggled to France during WWI. He participated in 17 battles and four offenses. He also used his keen senses to warn his unit of poison-gas attacks, incoming artillery fire, and to locate downed soldiers on the battlefield. His senses were also put to good use when he sniffed out and apprehended a German spy lurking in the trenches. What a good boy.
Chips was a Collie/German Sherpard/Siberian Husky who saw his share of action in Europe during World War II. Among the animal’s heroic exploits are his assault on an Italian machine gun nest and helping take 10 enemy soldiers captive.
Guide dogs Salty and Rosellewere with their owners during the 9/11 attacks. They each successfully guided their owners, who suffered from blindness, out of the burning towers before they collapsed, feats which were later recognized when they were awarded the Dickin Medal.
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Kaiser
This little buddy was a German Shepard who served in Vietnamunder his handler Marine Lance Cpl. Alfredo Salazar. Kaiser and Salazar did more than 30 combat patrols together. After the pair joined “D” Company for a search and destroy mission, they were ambushed by enemy forces while on patrol in 1966. Kaiser was hit in the initial barrage and died while trying to lick Salazar’s hand.
A liver and white pointer born in 1936, Judy, became the mascot of the British Royal Navy at a young age. In 1942, her ship was attacked by bombers and forced to beach on a nearby island that had little food and no apparent water sources. Judy immediately started digging on the coastline and uncovered a fresh water spring, saving the lives of her shipwrecked crew mates. Judy was given the Dickin Medal (the animal version of a Victoria Cross) in 1946.
This heroic pup, whose name means “teddy bear” in Norwegian, eventually became a symbol for Norwegian freedom during WWII. He once pushed a knife-wielding attacker into the sea. On another occasion, he jumped off the boat and dragged a sailor, who had fallen overboard, back to shore.
