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Tour Pets are not uncommon in times of war. Many platoons and sections serving overseas have adopted local dogs or cats to have as mascots, or for the moral support that they provided.
A moment of tenderness between a warrior and a very young kitten
I've become fascinated by this picture and wanted to know more about this soldier, and here is what I found out: This photo was taken during the Korean war in 1953. The little kitten named Miss Hap was only two weeks old. Marine Sergeant Frank Praytor adopted her after the mother cat died from the war. According to the marine, the name was derived “because she was born at the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Praytor’s kitten survived. He fed her on meat from ration cans. After Praytor left her to return home, she became something of a mascot for the company’s public information office. Praytor believes another soldier, corporal Conrad Fisher, eventually adopted her, and brought her home to the United States.
There’s a juxtaposition between the soldier and the human. He’s dressed for war but hasn’t lost the ability to care for another living creature. In his left hand he holds his kitten, nursing it delicately with a medicine dropper.
The photo quickly went the pre-Internet equivalent of viral, appearing in more than 1,700 American newspapers, including The New York Times. Praytor then faced a court martial for allowing a civilian publication to run a combat photo without proper authorization. When handed the court martial papers, however, his commandant tore them up. Evidently people were nuts about cat photos pre-Facebook.
There’s a juxtaposition between the soldier and the human. He’s dressed for war but hasn’t lost the ability to care for another living creature. In his left hand he holds his kitten, nursing it delicately with a medicine dropper.
The photo quickly went the pre-Internet equivalent of viral, appearing in more than 1,700 American newspapers, including The New York Times. Praytor then faced a court martial for allowing a civilian publication to run a combat photo without proper authorization. When handed the court martial papers, however, his commandant tore them up. Evidently people were nuts about cat photos pre-Facebook.
http://rarehistoricalphotos.com/marine-kitten-korean-war-1952/
http://keiththomsonbooks.com/blog/kitten
http://keiththomsonbooks.com/blog/kitten
The Cutest cellphone ever - wildini.blogspot.com Kathy Whilden
This list of soldiers who became friends overseas with local cats and dogs is a touching reminder of humanity, demonstrating that even during times of war, there are moments of beauty and kindness.
Soldier with his dog - unknown
War is hell, and the soldiers that fight it are just people – they need love too. The animals stranded in dangerous warzones and the soldiers that fight in them gravitate towards each other because they need each other – the soldiers can rescue animals that would otherwise remain homeless, while the animals provide soldiers with some much-needed love and therapy.
See more moving images of warriors and their animal friends
