Wojtek the Bear: The Soldier Who Never Took Off His Uniform

A Syrian brown bear cub named Wojtek was adopted by the 22nd Polish Artillery Supply Company in Iran. He was formally enlisted as a private and given a paybook, barracks, and even a hammock. He drank beer, smoked cigarettes (ate them), and was trained to carry artillery shells during the Battle of Monte Cassino. He became the official mascot of the regiment and was depicted on their insignia carrying an artillery shell. After the war, Wojtek was given a permanent home at Edinburgh Zoo, where Polish veterans visited him regularly until his death in 1963.