World War II Database

Buddies was a collection of photographs featuring animal mascots of various US military units during WW2. While a bulldog graced the cover and most of the photographs were indeed fellow canines, other animals such as cats, monkeys, a pelican, an albatross, a rooster, goats, and others also made their way into this rare heart-warming volume on the topic of WW2. The supporting actors of the book, ie. the soldiers, sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen, and airmen, regardless of the shabbiness of their uniforms and the tiresome look in their faces, seemed to be all smiles as they cuddled with their animal companions, reflecting that underneath the gruesome reality of war, they were but boys caught in the game of global politics. As expected, text was sparse, but they adequately relayed the author's admiration for war time journalists who took the time to capture these casual photographs between bouts of violent combat, and for the animals who, perhaps unknowingly, bolstered the morale of the American fighting men. Although this book ultimately had little to do with the events of WW2, I felt that it was a worthy diversion, for that it reminded me that those who served during war time were not anonymous.

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