Hi, everyone.

From:
http://www.lifewithcats.tv/2011/11/11/11-11-11-remembering-the-c
untless-cats-who-also-served/

Pfc. Hammer is just one of countless numbers of cats employed during wartime,
in service to those who serve and protect us.

From at least the time of ancient Egypt's greatness to this very day, cats
have served in many ways. They are thought to have been used by the ancient
Persians to keep the Eygptians from engaging in warfare, due to the Egyptians'
respect for felines. They have controlled vermin and disease, and protected
food supplies when employed as mousers. They have been used to alert their
human comrades to chemical agents, most notably in the trenches of WWI, where
they were employed by the hundreds of thousands. Mostly, they have provided
comfort, companionship, therapy, friendship, and a sense of some normalcy to
men and women confronting the stresses and horrors of wartime.

Pfc. Hammer is just one of those many thousands, perhaps millions, of cats who
have served those who have served us. The well known Iraq war veteran was born
on his unit's base and lived the experience of war with his fellow soldiers.
He kept mice away from the food supply, he jumped at the sounds of too-close
gunfire and explosions along with his mates, he soothed the soldiers' frazzled
nerves as they soothed his, and he was a sweet friend to all.

Thanks to his chief pal, Staff Sgt. Rick Bousefield, along with US advocacy
organization Alley Cat Allies and Military Mascots, Hammer followed his fellow
soldiers back to the States, and retired from military service, taking on the
role of family pet to Rick Bousefiled.

We salute the famous cats and those who've been forgotten. Thank you for your
service.

Later,
Sean

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