War Animals

America's highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor, was awarded to 440 deserving members of the "Greatest Generation" that served in World War II. But in 1943, before the war was even over, Allied leaders realized they needed another kind of award to recognize a different kind of World War II hero - animal heroes. Founded in 1943, the prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal is the highest award an animal can achieve for gallantry and bravery in the field of military conflict. It was given to 55 animals who served valiantly alongside the members of the Greatest Generation.

At the onset of World War II, Williams formed Elephant Company and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese in Burma and saving refugees, including on his own "Hannibal Trek." Billy Williams became a media sensation during the war, telling reporters that the elephants did more for him than he was ever able to do for them, but his story has since been forgotten.

This warm-hearted story by the author of The Incredible Journey recounts the adventure of Bel Ria, a dancing gypsy dog who is caught in France with the retreating British Expeditionary Force.

In 1952, the United States was heavily involved in the Korean War. When members of the U.S. Marine Corps bought a horse to join in the war effort, little did they know that a hero would soon emerge. Trained to be a military pack horse, Sergeant Reckless quickly became a part of the unit and served to support the troops in several combat missions during the war.

The War of the Animals series is an animal bible that chronicles the rise and fall of animal civilization over ten generations. The first book, The Shut Face of Thunder, asks the question: What would happen if animals fought back against the destruction of their habitats? What if it was a fair fight? After the military weaponizes animals, their intellects awaken. The military responds by creating death camps to exterminate infected animals. Moon Shadow, an Arctic white wolf, unites with White Claw, a polar bear king, to form Animus Nor, the first animal republic, to negotiate peace. The ...

Listen all about the brave little pigeon that carried out a dangerous mission to deliver a desperate message across a deadly battlefield.

When the Iraq war began, conservationist Lawrence Anthony could think of only one thing: the fate of the Baghdad Zoo, caught in the crossfire at the heart of the city. Once Anthony entered Iraq, he discovered that hostilities and uncontrolled looting had devastated the zoo and its animals. Working with members of the zoo staff and a few compassionate U.S. soldiers, Anthony defended the zoo, bartered for food on war-torn streets, and scoured bombed palaces for desperately needed supplies.

The year is 1536—a time of great conflict. A cat, Gert, flees with his young family from their war-torn homeland. The refugees trek through devastated foreign lands seeking a place of refuge, but everywhere the environment is seething with tension, danger, and persecution. Can Gert keep his family alive? Can he even keep his family united? More importantly, will he ever find sanctuary for himself and his family? A story of survival, revenge, and bigotry that is a worthy sequel to the acclaimed “General Jack and the Battle of the Five Kingdoms.” View the book trailer on David Bush ...

The War of the Animals series is an animal bible that chronicles the rise and fall of animal civilization over ten generations. In this sequel to The Shut Face Of Thunder, the snake empress Thraxis strikes. The anaconda ruler resurrects long-dead species of dinosaurs to create an army that will allow her to rule the seven continents of the newly forged animal world like her great ancestors once did. Yet, just as Thraxis seizes power, a new threat emerges. The animals must unite before the supreme force on the planet, King Blu, unleashes an apocalypse unlike any the animal world has ever seen.

Sebastian is a young coyote with a terrible fear of chipmunks, yet he has a bold plan to save the city of Chicago from losing its most treasured possession--the U-505 Submarine! A story of courage through adventure, Chi-Town Coyote, a 30,000 word novel for readers age 8-15, reveals the inner thoughts and feelings of a country coyote as he discovers the city of Chicago. Floating on a Lake Michigan ice drift, riding public transportation, visiting the Sears Tower, chowing down on corned beef from Manny's Deli, and hiding out in the Museum of Science and Industry create unexpected challenges ...

After a war breaks out, a house cat is left to fend for itself when its master has to flee the country as a refugee.

The War of the Animals series is an animal bible that chronicles the rise and fall of animal civilization over ten generations. In Book 4, Azaz, King of Kings, a young grizzly cub fights for his life after hunters murder his mother before his very eyes. The newly awakened bears, fearing retribution, exile Azaz and his father for murdering humans. Military hunters capture Azaz and experiment on him. The experiments create a monster of untold strength. Azaz's father leads an attack on the military base, freeing Azaz. The military fatally shoots Azaz's father. Azaz vows revenge. The grizzly ...

When Justin's older brother, Kyle, is killed in Afghanistan, Justin can't believe that his brother is really gone. Except there's one thing that Kyle left behind.... Max is a highly trained military canine who has always protected his fellow soldiers. But when he loses his handler and best friend, Kyle, Max is traumatized and unable to remain in the service. Max is sent home to America, where the only human he connects with is Justin, and he is soon adopted by Kyle's family, essentially saving his life.

The history of European philosophy is usually constructed from the work of men. In Metaphysical Animals, a pioneering group biography, Clare Mac Cumhaill and Rachael Wiseman offer a compelling alternative. In the mid-twentieth century Elizabeth Anscombe, Mary Midgley, Philippa Foot, and Iris Murdoch were philosophy students at Oxford when most male undergraduates and many tutors were conscripted away to fight in the Second World War. Together, these young women, all friends, developed a philosophy that could respond to the war’s darkest revelations.

Belfast, October 1940. Twenty-year-old zookeeper Hettie Quin arrives at the city docks in time to meet her new charge: an orphaned three-year-old Indian elephant named Violet. As Violet adjusts to her new solitary life in captivity and Hettie mourns the recent loss of her sister and the abandonment of her father, new storm clouds gather. A world war rages, threatening a city already reeling from escalating tensions between British Loyalists and those fighting for a free and unified Ireland.

After being bombed and shipwrecked repeatedly while serving for several wild and war-torn years as a mascot of the World War II Royal Navy Yangtze river gunboats the Gnat and the Grasshopper, Judy ended up in Japanese prisoner of war camps in North Sumatra. Along with locals as slave labor, the American, Australian, and British POWs were forced to build a 1,200-mile single-track railroad through the most horrifying jungles and treacherous mountain passes.

Animals have played an important role in warfare throughout history. Military forces have long relied on animals' natural abilities to achieve their missions. From medieval warriors charging into combat on horseback to dolphins locating explosive mines at sea, learn about the many ways animals have helped armies find success on the battlefield. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

The world can be a dangerous place. Over time, animals evolved many natural defenses to help them survive. Combat during wartime is extremely dangerous. Why not look to nature to find the best defenses for soldiers on the battlefield? Military forces have done just that for hundreds of years. From the armor of medieval knights to tomorrow's advanced camouflage, learn how military technology often mimics the traits of animals to help protect soldiers in combat. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

In the wild, animals use teeth, claws, and other natural weapons to attack their prey. On the battlefield, soldiers need weapons to fight the enemy. Military forces have often looked to nature for inspiration to develop effective weapons and combat tactics. From the first feathered arrows to tomorrow's high-tech weaponry, learn how military technology often imitates the natural weapons of animals to help soldiers succeed in combat. Then be sure to catch the other amazing titles in the Beasts and the Battlefield series.

Two dozen Navy SEALs descended on Osama bin Laden’s compound in May 2011. After the mission, only one name was made public: Cairo, a Belgian Malinois and military working dog. This is Cairo's story, and that of his handler, Will Chesney, a SEAL Team Operator whose life would be irrevocably tied to Cairo's.