Jackie Mead writes of 6 Heroic Military Cats. Among those admirable felines was the U.S. Navy tabby Princess Papule:
Pooli, a cat who served aboard a United States attack transport during World War II, celebrates her 15th birthday. Los Angeles Times Photographic Archive via Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.
Striped tabby Princess Papule was born on July 4, 1944, at the Pearl Harbor Navy Base in Hawaii. Pooli, as she was known to the sailors, was brought aboard the attack transport USS Fremont by crewman James Lynch. The ship fought in the Pacific theater of World War II and participated in the invasions of Saipan, Palau, Leyte, and Iwo Jima.
Pooli chose to sleep in the mailroom during battles. Upon crossing the equator for the first time, the tabby participated in a ceremony transforming inexperienced sailors from “polliwogs” to sea-hardened “shellbacks.” She was issued her own uniform and awarded three service ribbons and four battle stars for her time in the navy. Pooli put the uniform back on for a Los Angeles Times story celebrating her 15th birthday.
Well done, Pooli, so very well done.