PFC Hammer... army cat

Gigabein · 2004-07-13, 01:24 PM

This ones for Sputty

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...er_1&printer=1
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Fort Carson Staff Sgt. Rick Bousfield of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team had a mission: Saving Pvt. Hammer.

Pfc. Hammer is an Iraqi tabby cat the unit adopted after he was born last fall at a base in Balad, 50 miles north of Baghdad.

When Bousfield found out his unit was leaving Iraq (news - web sites) in March, he decided he couldn't leave a member of his team behind.

"He has been through mortar attacks," said Bousfield, a 19-year Army veteran. "He'd jump and get scared liked the rest of us. He is kind of like one of our own."

Pfc. Hammer got his name from the unit that adopted him, Team Hammer. Soldiers would tuck Hammer in their body armor during artillery attacks, and in return, Hammer chased mice in the mess hall.

"He was a stress therapist," Bousfield said. "The guys would come back in tired and stressed. Check Makro Specials and Pick n Pay Specials. Hammer would come back and bug the heck out of you. He wiped away some worries."

The kitten earned his rank after nabbing five mice.

When Bousfield learned his unit was going, he sent an e-mail to Alley Cat Allies, a national clearinghouse of information on stray cats, asking for help bringing Hammer along.

Alley Cat Allies raised $2,500 for Hammer's shots, sterilization, paperwork and a plane ride to the United States.

Hammer left Iraq with his unit in March, then flew from Kuwait to San Francisco in cargo-class. He traveled first class with an Alley Cat Allies volunteer to Denver.

Bousfield met the kitten at the airport.

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Infernus · 2004-07-13, 01:29 PM

1337!

...my sister just got a new kitten... and I've never been a cat person but the thing is so cute... I don't know what she named it, I just call it furball, but its so cute... it fits in the palm of my hand and hell you would think it was just a major hairball if you weren't told otherwise... has claws like a beast tho...

Triggar · 2004-07-13, 01:33 PM

That is so cute. It's so sweet that an animal could bring that troop some joy and relief while they were enduring something like a mortar attack. I'm glad they got to take the kitten back with them!

I want a cat

TheN00b · 2004-07-13, 01:37 PM

OMG! Teh Triggar is unhappyz0r! Martyr, get your lazy butt over here!

Gigabein · 2004-07-13, 01:39 PM

There's a family of bunnies living under the trailer I work at. I'm thinking about catching one of them and having it be our mascot. It can endure the terrors of an office environment with me and become like a family member.

Jennyboo · 2004-07-13, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Triggar

That is so cute. It's so sweet that an animal could bring that troop some joy and relief while they were enduring something like a mortar attack. I'm glad they got to take the kitten back with them!

I want a cat

Give the Women her cat

JetRaiden · 2004-07-13, 02:47 PM

aww...that must be a brave cat to hear all those loud noises all the time and not freak out...I lit some firecrackers in my backyard on the 4th of july and my cat ran into the woods and didnt come back for like 6 hours.

Infernus · 2004-07-13, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by Jennyboo

Give the Women her cat

OH OH OH! AND tie a ring to it's collar... there you go, proposal and furry feline...

Baneblade · 2004-07-13, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by Infernus

OH OH OH! AND tie a ring to it's collar... there you go, proposal and furry feline...

Nice and now if he does it he won't get the credit...

Infernus · 2004-07-13, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Sobekeus

Nice and now if he does it he won't get the credit...

Of course he won't... Triggar, angered by martyr's use of my idea, will break it off with martyr and then i can pry that martyr will come over to my side of the line... Heh... if only...

Triggar · 2004-07-13, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by Infernus

OH OH OH! AND tie a ring to it's collar... there you go, proposal and furry feline...

I HAVE THREE YEARS OF COLLEGE TO GO.

No wedding bells until I get some of this student debt paid off!! No ring, either!

But I will take a cat.

And whoever said that the troop shouldn't be worrying about a cat, I'll ask you again to put yourself in their shoes - they're in a shithole country dealing with dust storms and mortar attacks, away from their families and friends - a little cat morale booster means loads more to them than it would for us!

enfiliade · 2004-07-13, 06:15 PM

Triggar: 1
Everyone else: 0

Jennyboo · 2004-07-14, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Triggar

That is so cute. It's so sweet that an animal could bring that troop some joy and relief while they were enduring something like a mortar attack. I'm glad they got to take the kitten back with them!

I want a cat

Indeed Cats are great