Smoke (donkey)

Smoke, also known as Smoke the Donkey, became a mascot and therapy animal for the United States Marine Corps during the 2003 Iraq War. Marine Colonel John Folsom helped rescue the malnourished Iraqi donkey and built a corral and stable at Camp Taqaddum in Iraq from 2008 to 2009 among the Marines of the 1st Marine Logistics Group who were deployed there.[1] Folsom was able to find a Navy psychologist to designate Smoke as a therapy animal in order to address regulations against keeping the animal on the premises. The donkey became popular with the troops who would send photos to children back home.[2]

Smoke

Species	donkey
Sex	male
Born	Iraq
Died	August 14, 2012 Take Flight Farms Omaha, Nebraska
Owner	United States Marine Corps
Appearance	Gray

In 2011, Smoke traveled half way around the world to the United States, the only donkey to make such a journey.[1] The process to relocate Smoke from Iraq to the United States required senior level diplomatic coordination by multiple countries, and the assistance of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.[1][2] Once in the United States, Smoke lived at Take Flight Farms in Omaha, Nebraska until his death on August 14, 2012 of natural causes.[3]

In 2016, Smoke the Donkey: A Marine's Unlikely Friend, a book about his life by Cate Folsom, was published by University of Nebraska Press.[4]

References

1. Williams, Kari. "No Ordinary Donkey", VFW magazine, vol. 105, no. 2 (October 2017), pp. 28-31.
2. Hendee, David (May 18, 2011). "Marines' donkey mascot comes to U.S. after Iraq rescue". Reuters. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
3. "Smoke the donkey, beloved Marine mascot dies". Battle Rattle. 2012-08-15. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
4. Folsom, Cate (April 2016). Smoke the Donkey: A Marine's Unlikely Friend. U of Nebraska Press. ISBN 9781612348438.