A Real Soldier

[DOMS]

Where I first found it. Wikipedia confirmation.

He was a hard drinking, hard smoking, Nazi-fighting bear.

From the first link:

The idea of a fucking alcoholic Nazi-fighting bear is so awesome that you?d think it was something out of a bizarre cartoon or a Sci-Fi Channel Original Movie. It?s the sort of shit that, even with all of the historical evidence, seems too totally awesome to be true. The bear was a hero of World War II, and there are statues of him and plaques memorializing his brave service in Poland, Edinburgh, the Imperial War Museum in London, and the Canadian War Museum. Unbelieveable.

And

His actions were so inspiring to his fellow soldiers that after the battle the official insignia of the 22nd Artillery was changed to a picture of Voytek carrying an armful of howitzer ammunition.

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From Wiki:

As the bear was less than a year old, he initially had problems swallowing and was fed with condensed milk from an emptied vodka bottle. The bear was subsequently fed with fruit, marmalade, honey and syrup, and was often rewarded with beer, which became his favourite drink. He also enjoyed smoking and eating cigarettes.[SUP][/SUP] He enjoyed wrestling and was taught to salute when greeted.

And

To get him on a British transport ship when the unit sailed from Egypt to fight with the British 8th Army in the Italian campaign, he was officially drafted into the Polish Army as a private and was listed among the soldiers of the 22nd Artillery Supply Company of the Polish II Corps.

And

Wojtek helped his friends by transporting ammunition ? never dropping a single crate.

Truth is, indeed, stranger than fiction. I freakin' love it.