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Horses and mules are veterans, too.
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Wednesday, the 11th, is Veteran’s Day, and while we take the day to remember and thank the many veterans who have defended and protected us through so many horrible wars, we can also take a moment to reflect on the animals that have aided our military in war, both past and present.
In war, horses have often been ridden or used to haul supplies. Mules are used to haul ammunition and supplies through rugged terrain that even military off-road vehicles cannot navigate.
Of course, it isn’t just the U.S. that relied heavily on animals to assist in war efforts. Our allies in the World Wars also used dogs, horses, and mules. It is estimated that in WWI the allied troops used approximately 300,000 mules, and in WWII 200,000 mules saw service. Going further back, it is estimated that around 72,000 horses and mules participated in the Battle of Gettysburg in the Civil War. According to the terrific book “The Natural Superiority of Mules” (Hauer, 2005), it is said that the U.S. has never lost a war in which we utilized mules.
The same book gives an anecdote said to have happened during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. During the Civil War, rebels had captured an army general and forty mules. It is alleged that Lincoln’s response upon hearing the news was only “I’m sorry to lose those mules.”
Our founding father, George Washington, was also a great fan of mules and is credited with creating the uniquely American breed of donkey called American Mammoth Jackstock for the express purpose of breeding draft mules. He had a few favorite war horses which are immortalized in the many statues and paintings of Washington leading a charge on horseback.
Another role that mules and horses have played in war is to haul supplies in to troops in remote areas, and haul out the wounded and sick. For this reason, and because many of the mules used in the World Wars were bought from Missourian mule breeders, the state of Missouri was lobbied by many to make the mule the state animal. However, the official title was not bestowed until the American Legion sent representatives to the Missouri state legislature to testify that the mule is considered a Veteran of Foreign Wars by them.
The service of mules in World War II is particularly interesting. In a section of “The Natural Superiority of Mules” about Arizona’s Mule Appreciation Day in October of 1985, the facts of mule service in WWII are discussed. The mules were actually “drafted” and assigned a serial number. Service records were kept on each mule. While the soldiers received training at boot camps, the mules received training in being packed, and hauling heavy loads.
Upon being assigned to a platoon, the mules would receive “haircuts”. One bell cut (which means the top of the tail was trimmed to produce what looks like a bell high up the tail), meant the mule was assigned to the 1st Platoon. A two bell cut involved making a second bell a little further down the tail, and meant the mule was assigned to the 2nd Platoon. The three bell cut, in which the mule’s tail had three bell cuts reaching all the way down to the end of his tail, meant the 3rd Platoon was the home of that mule.
One of the many ways horses played a role in conjunction with mules is the “bell mare.” In order to ensure the mules would stay together, the troops used a “bell mare.” This was a mare who wore a bell around her neck. The mules would all dutifully follow the mare and never strayed very far from her. So the soldiers could control all the mules by simply controlling the bell mare. Remember, to mules, a mare is “mommy.”
Finally, when a mule or horse is killed in action, their record receives the same notation as any GI: KIA.
But as mentioned earlier, it is not solely past wars which brought us horse and mule veterans. In 2001, a Green Beret mission was carried out in Southern Afghanistan which utilized mules to carry supplies. The natural heartiness of mules makes them a good choice in such situations because they can handle harsh environments better than their maternal species. And, as already mentioned, they are invaluable in navigating the incredibly difficult terrain of Afghanistan.
So this Wednesday, please say an extra “thank you” to the horses and mules who still assist our troops in keeping us safe in this crazy world.
If you want to learn more about the use of horses and mules by the military, an internet search turns up some very interesting sites. You can also pick up a copy of “The Natural Superiority of Mules” or “The Mule’s Last Bray” on Amazon.com
References:
http://www.inecom.com/products/consumer/horsesofgettysburg/AboutTheFilm/BoxSetChapterList.asp
The Natural Superiority of Mules. 2005. Hauer, John. The Lyons Press.
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