This is an article about the right to bear arms.

No, that’s too corny. What if we say that it’s about the bear necessities of military morale?

Nope. Scratch that. OK, how about, “Here you will read about the grizzly facts of combat”?

Grrr… Where do we find these writers? Please bear with us while we make a quick personnel change and assign someone less inclined to horrid puns.

Still with us? Good. If you endured that awkward introduction, you are about to be rewarded for your patience and pain tolerance. Allow us to introduce you to one of the greatest unsung heroes of World War II: Corporal Wojtek.

Wojtek was born in 1942. Generally, his age would have exempted him from military service during WWII, but when he was not yet one year old, the little guy was drafted into active duty.

It was the spring of 1942. Members of the Polish II Corps who had been evacuated from the Soviet Union were stationed in Hamadan, Iran. On April 8, soldiers from that unit met a young Iranian boy at a railroad station. He had rescued a bear cub after its mother had been killed by hunters. The cub was a Syrian brown bear, and he immediately endeared himself to Polish soldiers. They purchased the cub from the boy and named their newest comrade Wojtek. The name comes from an old Slavic name Wojciech, which translates as “Happy Warrior.”

For the next three months, Wojtek was under the care of the great-niece of General Bolesław Wieniawa-Długoszowski. By August, Wojtek was ready to enlist and became part of the 2nd Transport Company.

The young recruit initially served as a member of the civilian support team. He happily provided needed body heat on cold nights by bunking with the soldiers. In exchange, the members of the unit rewarded him with treats, such as fruit and marmalade. During this time, Wojtek developed a taste for coffee. Unfortunately, he also picked up the bad habit of cigarettes, which he both smoked and ate. He helped the soldiers maintain peak physical fitness through wrestling matches and learned to salute when greeted.

Wojtek was reassigned to the 22nd Artillery Supply Company. Now no longer a cub, he had bulked up to 90 kg (200 lbs). He took on more manual labor responsibilities by helping move supply crates. As his fame increased, he also served as a goodwill ambassador to visiting dignitaries.

When the Polish II Corps was assigned to fight with the British Eighth Army in the Italian campaign, Wojtek’s civilian status became a liability. The British transport ship that was to carry the unit to Italy was governed by a troubling regulation. It prohibited the transport of mascots and pet animals. Wojtek had become much more than a mascot to the Polish soldiers, however. Rather than leave their dear comrade behind, Wojtek was officially enlisted into the Polish Army and given the rank of private.

Private Wojtek was assigned his own paybook, rank, and serial number. Although he was just a private, he was given the luxury of special accommodations. When not sleeping in the tents with the soldiers, he had a special wooden crate that served as his barracks.

Wojtek was not one to seek special privileges, however. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, he threw himself into his duties and helped carry 100-pound (45 kg) crates of 25-pound artillery shells. Single-handed (single-pawed?), he hoisted boxes that would have required four of his human counterparts. For his distinguished service during combat, Wojtek was promoted to the rank of corporal. Additionally, his comrades honored him by depicting him on the official emblem of the 22nd Company.

Corporal Wojtek served bravely and faithfully, lending his full support to the Allied cause. His efforts contributed to the Allied victory in Europe. After celebrating V-E Day in 1945, Wojtek and the rest of the 22nd Company were reassigned to the Winfield Airfield near Hutton, Scotland. With the horrors of war behind him, Wojtek became a popular goodwill ambassador among the civilians and a sought-after subject by the press. The Polish-Scottish Association made him an honorary member.

The 22nd Company was demobilized on November 15, 1947. Wojtek had fallen in love with his tranquil Scottish surroundings. He retired and took up residence at the Edinburgh Zoo. He lived out the rest of his days there, making frequent guest appearances on the BBC children’s television show Blue Peter. He was always delighted to receive visits from his comrades from the 22nd Company, whom he recognized when they spoke to him in Polish.

Wojtek lived to see his 21st birthday and died in December 1963. No longer the little cub that had been rescued by an Iranian boy, Wojtek was a battled-hardened combat hero who towered at 1.8 meters (5 foot 11 inches) and weighed nearly 500 kg (1,100 pounds).

Many memorials pay tribute to the beloved Corporal Wojtek. Among them are a plaque in the Imperial War Museum, in London; a sculpture by David Harding in London’s Sikorski Museum, a statue in Kraków’s Jordan Park, a bronze statue in Edinburgh’s West Princes Street Gardens, a statue in Duns, Scotland, and a statue in Cassino, Italy. Additionally, Poznań, Poland named the street that leads to the Poznań New Zoo in his honor. The street is called Ulica Kaprala Wojtka (“Corporal Wojtek’s Street).

All of this fame never seemed to change Wojtek. We suspect that if he knew about all of the tributes in his honor, he would simply grin and bear them.

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