America’s highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor, was awarded to 440 deserving members of the “Greatest Generation” that served in World War II. But in 1943, before the war was even over, Allied leaders realized they needed another kind of award to recognize a different kind of World War II hero—animal heroes.
Founded in 1943, the prestigious PDSA Dickin Medal is the highest award an animal can achieve for gallantry and bravery in the field of military conflict. It was given to fifty-five animals who served valiantly alongside the members of the Greatest Generation. In War Animals, nationally bestselling author Robin Hutton (Sgt. Reckless: America’s War Horse) tells the incredible, inspiring true stories of the fifty-five animal recipients of the PDSA Dickin Medal during WWII and the lesser-known stories of other military animals whose acts of heroism have until now been largely forgotten. These animal heroes include
A heartwarming and sometimes even hilarious history of hero birds, dogs, horses, and more, War Animals is a World War II story you’ve never read before.
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“Sgt. Reckless will take you to places you’ve never been before. Both Robin and her inspiration are to be commended.”
— Michael Blowen, founder and president of Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement, on Sgt. Reckless
“[A] sparkling and engaging portrait of a most remarkable and courageous animal.”
— Publishers Weekly on Sgt. RecklessRobin Hutton has spent her adult life working in major event productions and the motion picture business. She has been the writing partner of Tom Laughlin for the last thirty years and is coauthor of The 9 Indispensable Ingredients in Every Hit Film, TV Show, Play, and Novel. Currently she is president of Angels without Wings, Inc., a nonprofit organization that spearheaded the development and dedication of a national memorial to Sergeant Reckless. The monument was dedicated at the National Museum of the Marine Corps on July 26, 2013, and an exhibit inside the museum was also opened at that time. For her charitable work, she was named “Patriotic Citizen of the Year” for 2014 by the local chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars and the Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Susan Boyce is the award-winning narrator of over 140 audiobooks. She performs in variety theater, is one half of the song-and-dance team of Jones & Boyce, and holds a degree in theater and biology. She can be heard in phone trees, in computer games, and as the voice of the pink “Care Bear.” She lives in St. Augustine, Florida, and summers in Greenville, Maine.