makeshiftmind

So, today I learned that in World War II, the 22nd Company of the Polish army adopted a brown bear named Voytek as their official company mascot.  They purchased him from a small boy in Iran who found him almost dead, and they nursed him to health.  The short of it is that he grew to be one of the troops (literally — they enlisted him) and traveled with the 22nd everywhere.  He was fond of smoking, drinking, and wrestling with his comrades.  During combat, he would haul boxes of ammunition to his friends on the front lines.  He was also responsible for uncovering an enemy spy in the 22nd’s bath house.

You think I’m making this up don’t you?  If only.  This story is frankly, way too entirely awesome for me to make up.  Read more about it in this excellent article from Badass of the Week.  Or if you’re still in doubt, the BBC will put your mind at ease.

<sarcasm>Maybe we should start sending bears to Iraq.</sarcasm>