In Iran in 1943, a group of Polish soldiers found and adopted an orphaned brown bear cub whose mother had been shot and killed by hunters. They gave him the name Wojtek, meaning “joyful warrior.” When Wojtek was first rescued, he had swallowing problems; the soldiers fed him with condensed milk and gradually marmalade, honey, syrup, and fruit. The soldiers would reward him with beer which quickly became his favourite. He also enjoyed stealing and eating cigarettes. Wotjek was taught to salute when he was greeted and his main hobby was wrestling with the soldiers and swimming.

Due to Wojtek being an animal, he was not allowed into theatres of operation, much to the dismay of the soldiers who raised him. They knew that they couldn’t give up on him - he had quickly became their boost to morale and their unofficial mascot. In a true testament to the quote “leave no man behind,” they enlisted him into the 22nd Artillery Transport Company of the 2nd Corps, and even gave him the rank of private meaning he had his own.

organikadam_En sevdiğiniz renk gün batımındaki kızıllık olmalı☺️

Jesus died for somebody’s sins

but not mine

melting in a pot of thieves

wild card up my sleeve

thick heart of stone

my sins my own

I engrave my own palm

Sweet black X

Adam placed no hex on me

I embrace Eve

and take full responsibility

for every pocket I have picked

mean and slick

every Johnny Ace song I’ve balled to

long before the church

made it neat and right

So Christ

I’m giving you the good-bye

firing you tonight

I can make my own light shine

and darkness too is equally fine

you got strung up for my brother

but with me I draw the line

you died for somebody’s sins

but not mine

© Patti Smith