Mousers in the Military
2 months 2 weeks ago - 2 months 2 weeks ago #522
by wvu4u2
Mousers in the Military was created by wvu4u2
Mousers in the military
Cat on I D card that reads, "Captain of Port, Baltimore, Maryland, Herman the Cat, U S Coast Guard."
Herman the Cat, occupation: EXPERT MOUSER, age: 8 months, height: 15 inches, weight: 11 pounds, eyes: GREEN, color hair: GRAY, received his credentials on Jan. 12, 1943. A pawprint substituted for the standard right-hand index fingerprint.
Despite a reputation of taking orders from no one, cats are a part of U.S. military history. They’ve served as mascots, pest control experts and morale boosters for service members throughout the years.
Pilots play with a cat.
Ship mascats…er…mascots
Photos of mascot cats on U.S. Naval vessels appear as far back as 1888 and through World War II, showing them playing with Navy fighter pilots before battle missions and providing companionship to sailors who spent long months at sea. Their presence was a comfort to many, offering a sense of normalcy and home.
Hard to believe, given cats’ notoriously independent dispositions, but Bounce, a feline mascot aboard the USS Chicago in 1905, was trained to stand attention on his hind legs and salute with a paw whenever “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed.
Superstitious sailors believed cats would bring them good luck and protection while they were out at sea. With their ability to see in low light, cats were rumored to be able to spot the faint light of enemy ships on the darkest of nights.
Working cats
A member of a Naval armed guard for the S.S. Jupiter, poses with cats named Mouse and Snow circa 1917-18.
During World Wars I and II, cats were an invaluable part of naval vessels. They helped control the rodent population, crucial for protecting food supplies and preventing the spread of disease. Able to squeeze into tight spaces, they prevented rodents from gnawing at important communications wiring and chewing through ropes and planks.
Military I D of a cat.
In 1943, Herman the cat was officially commissioned by the military as an “Expert Mouser,” as shown in his photo identification. His primary duty was to control and exterminate the rodent population aboard ships in the Port of Baltimore. At just eight months old, Herman became a member of the Coast Guard.
https://vaww.insider.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/herman-the-cat-feature.jpg?w=1400
Cats on the ground
While less common than their seafaring counterparts, cats also served alongside soldiers on land. Military bases often welcomed cats, again for their rodent control skills, and they quickly became beloved members of the unit. During World War I, cats were known to accompany soldiers in the trenches where they helped keep the rat population in check and offered a touch of comfort amidst the chaos.
Pfc. Hammer would hurt ‘em…if they were mice
In 2004, Staff Sgt. Rick Bousfield was among the soldiers who befriended a tabby Egyptian Mau cat while serving in Iraq. Named Private First Class Hammer after the team that adopted him, the striped kitten earned his rank by keeping the mess hall clear of mice, but he also served as a distraction and companion to the troops.
“He was like our stress therapist over there,” Bousfield said. “You’d come in off raids where we’d been kicking in doors and guys would be sitting outside by themselves. He’d come over and take their minds off the war.”
Hammer saw combat as well.
“He has been through mortar attacks,” Bousfield said. “He’d jump and get scared liked the rest of us. He is kind of like one of our own.”
During artillery attacks, soldiers would hide Hammer in their body armor.
The young cat was so special to the unit that they fought to give him a home in America. Thanks to an animal rights nonprofit, the cat made its way to Bousfield’s home in Colorado.
Emotional support and morale
Whether mousing or morale-boosting, cats were purr-fect companions throughout U.S. military history.
Cat on I D card that reads, "Captain of Port, Baltimore, Maryland, Herman the Cat, U S Coast Guard."
Herman the Cat, occupation: EXPERT MOUSER, age: 8 months, height: 15 inches, weight: 11 pounds, eyes: GREEN, color hair: GRAY, received his credentials on Jan. 12, 1943. A pawprint substituted for the standard right-hand index fingerprint.
Despite a reputation of taking orders from no one, cats are a part of U.S. military history. They’ve served as mascots, pest control experts and morale boosters for service members throughout the years.
Pilots play with a cat.
Ship mascats…er…mascots
Photos of mascot cats on U.S. Naval vessels appear as far back as 1888 and through World War II, showing them playing with Navy fighter pilots before battle missions and providing companionship to sailors who spent long months at sea. Their presence was a comfort to many, offering a sense of normalcy and home.
Hard to believe, given cats’ notoriously independent dispositions, but Bounce, a feline mascot aboard the USS Chicago in 1905, was trained to stand attention on his hind legs and salute with a paw whenever “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed.
Superstitious sailors believed cats would bring them good luck and protection while they were out at sea. With their ability to see in low light, cats were rumored to be able to spot the faint light of enemy ships on the darkest of nights.
Working cats
A member of a Naval armed guard for the S.S. Jupiter, poses with cats named Mouse and Snow circa 1917-18.
During World Wars I and II, cats were an invaluable part of naval vessels. They helped control the rodent population, crucial for protecting food supplies and preventing the spread of disease. Able to squeeze into tight spaces, they prevented rodents from gnawing at important communications wiring and chewing through ropes and planks.
Military I D of a cat.
In 1943, Herman the cat was officially commissioned by the military as an “Expert Mouser,” as shown in his photo identification. His primary duty was to control and exterminate the rodent population aboard ships in the Port of Baltimore. At just eight months old, Herman became a member of the Coast Guard.
https://vaww.insider.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/herman-the-cat-feature.jpg?w=1400
Cats on the ground
While less common than their seafaring counterparts, cats also served alongside soldiers on land. Military bases often welcomed cats, again for their rodent control skills, and they quickly became beloved members of the unit. During World War I, cats were known to accompany soldiers in the trenches where they helped keep the rat population in check and offered a touch of comfort amidst the chaos.
Pfc. Hammer would hurt ‘em…if they were mice
In 2004, Staff Sgt. Rick Bousfield was among the soldiers who befriended a tabby Egyptian Mau cat while serving in Iraq. Named Private First Class Hammer after the team that adopted him, the striped kitten earned his rank by keeping the mess hall clear of mice, but he also served as a distraction and companion to the troops.
“He was like our stress therapist over there,” Bousfield said. “You’d come in off raids where we’d been kicking in doors and guys would be sitting outside by themselves. He’d come over and take their minds off the war.”
Hammer saw combat as well.
“He has been through mortar attacks,” Bousfield said. “He’d jump and get scared liked the rest of us. He is kind of like one of our own.”
During artillery attacks, soldiers would hide Hammer in their body armor.
The young cat was so special to the unit that they fought to give him a home in America. Thanks to an animal rights nonprofit, the cat made its way to Bousfield’s home in Colorado.
Emotional support and morale
Whether mousing or morale-boosting, cats were purr-fect companions throughout U.S. military history.
Last edit: 2 months 2 weeks ago by wvu4u2.
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