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This photo essay is from FP (Foreign Policy) website, a world news website. FP also produces a magazine.

There are a few pictures and large captions to show more stories of dogs that served in the military.

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The legend of the bin Laden hunter continues.

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Ready for Military Action: Remarkable Military Animals by By: Carla Mooney

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Ready for Military Action: Remarkable Military Animals by By: Carla Mooney

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https://www.getepic.com/app/read/37449
On the cover of this book, you will be able to see a Content Consultant was involved, whom is an Adjunct Faculty through the U.S. Naval Academy.
The pictures in the book were taken by members from The Department  of Defense.
The great text features including: table of contents, subheadings, pictures, captions, chapters, sidebars, and even additional resources for more information including websites and books. In addition, this text has labeled pictures, a glossary, cutaways, an index, a brief "About the Author sections, and lastly a "Stop and Think" section for continuing activities (such as finding 5 words in the book they were unknown, looking up the definition, rewriting the definition in their own words, and then writing a sentence with each new word).
This is a fantastic ebook on Epic! ebooks, where a student can double click on most words and have the word and definition read aloud.

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Going to Work: Animal Edition (Military Animals) by Julie Murray

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Going to Work: Animal Edition (Military Animals) by Julie Murray

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This book that is about the many ways animals have been used in the military has "colorful graphics, exciting photographs, interesting facts, and short, engaging sentences [to] encourage readers to learn more about military animals!"
Information and Photo Credit: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12733175-military-animals?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=q9KSATVcRR&rank=4

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Animals that Help Us: Military Animals by Wiley Blevins

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Animals that Help Us: Military Animals by Wiley Blevins

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https://www.getepic.com/app/read/62185
This book is an ebook from Epic which could be helpful for students that can click on most words and have the word read aloud and also a definition. There are real photographs, captions, many subheadings, important words in bold print that are in the glossary, an index, a very brief "About the Author" section, clear and simple labels on pictures, and a list of books and websites to use to get more information as back matter.

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Military Animals (Animals That Help Us book. Read reviews from world's largest community for readers. You may be familiar with some animals in the milita...

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In this article, there are original pictures in black and white, and it is written by Medals off America, Inc., a Military Blog.

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Animals have long been an integral part of American military efforts. Dogs first went to battle with their owners during the Revolutionary War and were officially employed by the U.S. military during World War I with the deployments of famous war dogs Sergeant Stubby and Rags. Horses were also vital to that war effort, providing transportation of troops and goods and acting as mobile combat vehicles in the cavalry. Right now, there are about 1,600 military working dogs on the frontlines, including some who serve alongside our military service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, K9 units that can detect explosives (including IEDs) and service dogs who assist our military veterans during post-war recovery.

Heroic war dog Sergeant Stubby is considered the most decorated war dog from World War II.

Animals, like their two-legged counterparts, are capable of exhibiting exceptional valor, sacrifice and accomplishment while serving their country in combat. It is for these reasons that the Armed Forces has recognized them with service medals and ribbons . Indeed, military working animals can be recognized for their heroism, whether they have served in combat or assist veterans in post-war recovery. With that said, modern-day service animals are not eligible to receive certain service medals.
Honorary Service Awards
Whether or not animals can officially earn service awards is a complex subject. The first dog to ever earn a Purple Heart was a German Shepherd mix named Chips, who was a national war hero after helping to capture 10 Italians during World War II. As a reward for his efforts during the war, Chips was awarded a Silver Star, a Distinguished Service Cross and a Purple Heart in 1943. However, after a Purple Heart national commander protested to the War Department, Chips was stripped of his Purple Heart and Silver Star. In the end, Chips was allowed to keep his awards, but the War Department decided that no more official military medals would be awarded to military dogs.

Now, particularly brave military animals can earn prestigious awards given by the non-profit animal organization American Humane and various other animal welfare groups. The top honor given to military pups is American Humane's Lois Pope K-9 Medal of Courage. Last year, it was given to five gallant canines who completed heroic acts such as uncovering improvised explosive devices (IED) and providing protection of troops on missions and patrols.

The U.S. War Dogs Association also presents the Military Working Dog Service Award to dogs who have actively participated in ground or surface combat with the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force or Coast Guard. Think of this award as a Combat Action Ribbon for military working dogs. The PDSA Dickin Medal, given by the British animal welfare organization The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, is awarded to distinguished animals who have served since World War II and is considered the equivalent of the Victoria Cross for animals.

So can service animals receive medals? The answer is yes, but today they cannot earn the same medals that can be earned by human military service members.

Staff Sergeant Reckless by USMC Photographer (Rhoades)

Staff Sergeant Reckless earned two Purple Hearts for her heroism during the Korean War.
Decorated Service Animals
Historically, the United States Armed Forces has recognized the sacrifice and bravery of military animals through both official awards-before they were officially banned when given to canines-as well as special honors designed specifically for enlisted animals. Here are some of the most famous and most decorated military animals to serve.

Chips (Dog)-Trained sentry dog Chips may have been retroactively stripped of his decorations, but he left a lasting legacy nonetheless. For attacking Italian machine-gunners and saving the life of his handler, and later helping to take 10 Italians as prisoners, Chips earned a theater ribbon with an arrowhead device as well as battle stars for each of his eight campaigns. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded a PDSA Dickin Medal .

Sergeant Stubby (Dog)- Serving in the trenches in France for eight months during World War I, Sergeant Stubby spent an entire month under constant fire in combat. He was wounded by a hand grenade in his foreleg and was later injured by mustard gas. The injuries earned him two wound stripes. Stubby was honored with an honorary Purple Heart and a Humane Education Society Gold Medal for his service.

Sergeant Reckless (Horse)- Decorated War Horse Staff Sergeant Reckless is one of the most decorated horses in military history. Reckless served in several combat actions during the Korean War, carrying ammo and other supplies and evacuating wounded soldiers, and was wounded in combat twice. For her service, she was awarded two Purple Hearts, the Dickin Medal, two Navy Presidential Unit Citations and four Korean Service Medals, among others.

Smoky (Dog)- A 4-pound Yorkie who served in World War II, Smoky was transformed into a war hero after being discovered by an American in the New Guinea jungle. She was best-known for spending long hours warding off enemy fighters and parachuting 30 feet from a tree using a specially made parachute. For her efforts in the war, Smoky was awarded eight battle stars and later earned the PDSA Certificate for Animal Bravery or Devotion. The Yorkshire Terrier National Rescue organization annually awards the Smoky Award in honor of this famed pup.

Lucca (Dog)- Perhaps the most famous dog to serve in Afghanistan, Lucca was a German Shepherd-Belgian Malinois mix who was trained to detect explosives. During her six years of service with the Marines, Lucca completed over 400 missions, with not a single human fatality occurring under her watch. She was injured by an IED and had her leg amputated during service, leading to her official retirement in 2012. Lucca was the first Marine Corps working dog to be honored with the PDSA Dickin Medal for her efforts. She also earned an unofficial Purple Heart for her bravery.

Homeward Bound Lucca Retires by Cpl. Jennifer Pirante

Lucca earned a Dickin Medal and an honorary Purple Heart for her six years of service as a detection dog in Afghanistan.
The Strengths of Military Animals
Just as top-ranking human military service members have strengths and skills that make them particularly valuable in military applications, so too do military animals. Military canines are able to sniff out danger-including IEDs, bombs and chemicals-and use their superhuman noses to locate casualties. Horses and mules were once essential for their physical strengths that allowed them to carry people and supplies for long distances. Perhaps most importantly, military service animals provide our service members and veterans with the comfort and companionship needed in stressful military environments. They are as important a part of our military's actions now as they ever were in the past. It has a proud history of its own!

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Can Animals Receive Service Medals? - Medals of America - Military Blog

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Animals have long been an integral part of American military efforts. Dogs first went to battle with their owners during the Revolutionary War and were officially employed by the U.S. military during World War I with the deployments of famous war dogs Sergeant Stubby and Rags.

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This is a fun and interesting Youtube video by The Animalist web page. The military animals in this video are discussed in the other texts as well, which wiill reiterate the other stories they research.

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Author Toni Kiser (National World War II Collections Manager)  discusses her book Loyal Forces: The American Animals of World War II via video.
Very informational source!

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Author Toni Kiser discussed her book, Loyal Forces: The American Animals of World War II. She highlighted the units of mules, dogs,... read more

Author Toni Kiser discussed her book, Loyal Forces: The American Animals of World War II. She highlighted the units of mules, dogs, pigeons, and horses that were an integral part of the U.S. war effort at home and abroad. This program was recorded by the National World War II Museum. close

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Author Toni Kiser discussed her book, [Loyal Forces: The American Animals of World War II]. She highlighted the units of mules, dogs, pigeons, and horses that were an integral part of the U.S. war effort at home and abroad. This program was recorded by the National World War II Museum.

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Top Military Animals in History from Cats to Elephants 

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Top Military Animals in History from Cats to Elephants 

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This video is from "Task & Purpose," a blog that gives military news, culture, and analysis by and for the military and veterans community." It is an exciting video that talks about Voytek, the military bear, bees, and even cattle. Students can turn on the closed captions to help them get information from the video.

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Top Military Animals in History From Cats to Elephants

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Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in World War II By Lisa B. Auel

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Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in World War II By Lisa B. Auel

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https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/1996/fall/buddies.html
The author, Auel, worked for the  National Archives and Records Administration Exhibits Branch. In addition, she was the keeper of an exhibit called "Buddies: Soldiers and Animals in Worlds War II. The article and pictures are from the National Archives website, with original pictures in black and white, with helpful captions.

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https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/15-animals-that-went-to-war
This article is from the Imperial War Museums website and it has many original black and white pictures with captions. This is a very good source for students that need minimal words and pictures to aid with comprehension and engagement.

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10 Animals Used for Military Purposes by Graham Land

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10 Animals Used for Military Purposes by Graham Land

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https://www.historyhit.com/animals-used-for-military-purposes/
On this website, History Hit, there are pictures with a paragraph of each of the 10 animals, and the information is short and sweet.
History Hit is a website and blog company that creates blogs, videos, articles by historians, History.HitTV (channel with history).

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What Other Animals Other Than Dogs and Horses are Used by the Military?: From Dogs and Horses to Camels, Dolphins, Elephants, and Weaponized Insects

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What Other Animals Other Than Dogs and Horses are Used by the Military?: From Dogs and Horses to Camels, Dolphins, Elephants, and Weaponized Insects

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https://www.forces.net/animals/what-animals-other-dogs-and-horses-are-used-military#:~:text=Dogs%20and%20horses%20are%20well,Insects%20have%20been%20weaponised
This article is from the BFBS "Forces" website which is "a registered charity and pioneer in armed forces broadcasting and communications for over 75 years" and they also offer "award-winning content."

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The Bulletproof Dog That Stormed Bin Laden’s Lair

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The Bulletproof Dog That Stormed Bin Laden’s Lair

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https://www.fastcompany.com/1753360/bulletproof-dog-stormed-bin-ladens-lair
At the beginning of this article, there is a brief story about the dog named "Cairo," that worked along with 80 Navy Seals to locate Osama Bin Laden when he was in hiding after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center.
The article mentions the high tech vest that the dog wore and then the article continues to give more information about the high-tech gear that some military dogs use. This article is mostly about the amazing vests some dogs wear that cost between $20,000-$30,000 each!

There is a neat black and red picture of a military dog wearing one of the vests, with the parts of the vest labeled. In addition, this article has links to other resources; one being the catalog for the company K9 Storm (vest makers) which could be interesting for some students to learn about.

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Rags: Hero Dog of WWI, A True Story by Margot Theis Raven

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Rags: Hero Dog of WWI, A True Story by Margot Theis Raven

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https://www.getepic.com/app/search#
In this ebook on Epic!, there are beautiful, cartoon-like images. It is a captivating true story, about a soldier and his adopted dog, and how they stuck with each other through thick and thin, during WWI.

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In this book, you will find beautiful, bright photographs and pictures.  There are also many text features including subheadings, table of contents, introduction, captions, sidebars, a glossary, and index and a very organized layout.
This book has many of the same animals that have been highlighted in the other texts provided in this text set (horses, dogs, camels), as well as some animals that are not mentioned in the other texts such as gerbils, pigs, and turkeys.
Photo Credit: Cindy Pruyne

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War Dogs: and Other Tales of Courageous Canines by Joanne Mattern

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War Dogs: and Other Tales of Courageous Canines by Joanne Mattern

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This is a short chapter book about dogs that were used during times of war, but also for other instances, including helping a blind person escape the World Trade Center on Sept. 11th and other amazing stories!
Each chapter is a different short story and most have a rectangular box called "Fast Fact" that has additional information about the dog in the chapter or the same breed.
In the backmatter, several different websites are listed for more information if the reader would like.
Photo Credit: Cindy Pruyne

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There are several things to look for when choosing texts. Quality texts have the following traits; engaging pictures, credible sources, interesting facts, and simple layouts to aid with comprehension. Quality texts might also have back matter, glossaries, an index, and more resources for more information.

This text set will be used in my classroom for my 6th grade students to work in collaborative research groups. Each group will choose an animal that was used in the military and then research that animal using the resources I have provided in this text set. Every group will then give a presentation to the class of their findings.

The following Common Core Standards will be supported in this project: *CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2
Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
*CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.8
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.
*CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

There are many different text features in the texts I have provided, amazing pictures, and credible sources. The texts have various reading levels and some of them are even able to be read aloud by the electronic device the students are using.

Many of these resources include information about the same animals; so it will be great for my students to interact with similar concepts presented in different ways.