Private Wojtek served proudly with the Polish Army during World War II, although he never set foot in Poland his entire life. He was a diligent worker, loading ammunition before and during battles, and retired as a hero. Also, Private Wojtek was a bear. In 1942, a unit of Polish soldiers adopted a baby bear in Iran after its mother had been shot by a hunter. The bear, named Wojtek, ended up with the 22nd Artillery Supply Company.
Sergeant Peter Prendys was appointed as Wojtek’s principal guardian. The quiet 46-year-old sergeant, soon dubbed “Mother Bear” by his soldiers, truly became the cub’s surrogate mother, wrapping the bear in his army coat on chilly evenings and cuddling him to sleep in their shared tent. Soon, Wojtek graduated from condensed milk to fruit, marmalade, honey, and syrup. But his favorite treat was cigarettes, which he preferred to eat rather than smoke.
As Anders’ Army headed toward Palestine to meet up with British forces, Wojtek grew up playing with Prendys and his other human friends, who taught him to wrestle and salute. He enjoyed lingering in the camp’s kitchen area, where he would happily eat or drink anything the cooks offered him. When he had been a very good bear, the men would give him a bottle of beer or wine, which he would gulp down before staring mournfully into the empty bottle until one of the soldiers took the hint and tossed him another.
By 1944, Wojtek was full-grown and the unit was ordered to Italy. In order to take the bear, Wojtek was drafted into the army as Private Wojciech “Wojtek” Perski. It was in Italy that Wojtek showed his bravery, utility, and heroism in battle. Read the full story Wojtek the war hero bear, or listen to it, at Damn Interesting.
Great story anyway :)