How a Childhood Love for Animals and a Family's Military Legacy Inspired My Journey – Erin McGill
I really love animals. I thought I wanted to be a zoologist as a child. But I am not so great with science, so drawing seemed to suit my skill set more. I live in NYC so I see pigeons every day. I would feed them with an elderly friend and admire them. I also have rescued a few sick pigeons.
I wanted to do a book on pigeons. As I was researching it I was captivated by their military service. My idea of a pigeon book morphed into an interest in other animals who have served in the military. I was so compelled by their stories.
Though it was before I was born, my father served in the Vietnam War and my grandfather had served in World War II. My father has a lot of interest in military history so I think the interest in history as a whole rubbed off on me. My grandfather was stationed in Australia during World War II and was attacked by a mob of kangaroos in the outback. He did not hold it against the kangaroos though, he later befriended a kangaroo and a dingo; they traveled around with him.
They rode in his jeep and slept in his tent. I think because of this family story I was really drawn to soldiers' relationships with animals in my research. The companionship and comfort they brought soldiers were so important. For children, I think this is especially understandable, but really for anyone. When you come home after a bad day and you get a lick or a snuggle from your pet it cheers you right up.
One of the challenges I would have in writing this is what stories to include. There are so many I couldn’t include them all. I really loved the story of Maria Dickin. She was the founder of the Dickin Award, often called the Animals Victoria Cross.
When I am doing research I look for something that jumps out at me. Usually, that’s what I keep going back to and how I piece the story together. For this book, on the Dickin Award, it says “We Also Serve” I was very drawn to that and I liked the repetition to carry each animal's story through the book. I was very drawn to all the different ways animals have served, whether as a mascot, search & rescue, carrying information, etc.
I hope readers also enjoy this.
Even an animal as small as a pigeon can carry a message and save lives. Isn’t that amazing? You don’t have to be big to do something important.
Who knows, maybe someday I might do a book on just pigeons.
-Erin Mcgill
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