It’s a tough life on the battlefield, being far away from family and friends and being far too close to the action for comfort. It can be a hard place to keep positive, but some soldiers have found a way to bring a little piece of home and warmth to their station even in the most trying times.

On first glance, these seem like regular photos you’d see in the history books, but there’s something adorable hiding in each and every photo. These are not your average wartime photos – you see, each one includes a special animal companion. Just take a look: