View source for Army Mules

{{short description|Mascots of the United States Military Academy}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox College Mascot
| name =Army Mule
| image = Army-Navy Game 2016 - Army Photo 15 (cropped).jpg
| image_size = 
| caption = Army Mule in 2016
| university =United States Military Academy
| conference =Patriot League
| conference_short = Patriot League
| description =Live [[mule]]s
| name_origin = 
| first_seen =1899
| related_mascots =
| official_website =[https://web.archive.org/web/20120207000048/http://www.goarmysports.com/trads/army-mules.html GoArmySports.com]
}}
The '''Army Mules''' are a group of [[mule]]s which serve as the mascots for the [[United States Military Academy]] in [[West Point, New York]].

[[File:191214-D-AP390-1230 (49222747241) (cropped).jpg|thumb|Costumed mascot]]
[[File:Mascots at Army-Navy game, 11-29-24 LCCN2016838951 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Bill the Goat]] and Army Mule at the 1924 [[Army-Navy Game]]]]
The tradition of mules as mascots for Army dates back to 1899, when an officer at the [[Philadelphia Quartermaster Depot]] decided that the team needed a mascot to counter the [[Bill the Goat|Navy goat]]. Mules were an obvious choice, as they were used as haulers for Army gear for generations. Not much is known about the "official" mules until 1936, when Mr. Jackson (named for [[Thomas J. Jackson|Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson]]), a former Army pack mule, arrived from [[Front Royal, Virginia]]. He served for twelve years, presiding over two national championship teams. Starting with Mr. Jackson, there have been seventeen "official" Army mules, only one, Buckshot, being female. The current Mule Corps are:

*'''Ranger III''' (formerly known as '''Jack'''): Ranger III, one of the Army Mules, has been on campus since 2011. He was trained by MAJ Anne Hessinger, an Army veterinarian who served at West Point in 2003–2006. Named, like his predecessor, for the 75th Ranger Regiment and all Rangers past and present, Ranger III came to the academy in 2011 as a gift of Steve Townes, class of 1975. He stands at {{hands|16.2}} and is the son of a Percheron mare.
*'''Stryker''' (formerly known as '''Abe'''): Stryker is the half-brother of Ranger III. He was also trained by MAJ Anne Hessinger and gifted by Steve Townes. Stryker stands at a height slightly shorter than his brother.
*'''Paladin''' (formerly known as '''Apache''' and '''Rocky'''): The newest member of the group, joined in February 2016, and is also a gift of Steve Townes. Paladin stands about two hands shorter than the half-brothers, and is half [[thoroughbred]] rather than Percheron.

The Army Mules are trained by cadet Mule Riders, a part of the Spirit Support Activity of the U.S. Corps of Cadets. The current Army Mule Riders are: Cadet Garrett Dolan, 2021, Cadet Sarah Traynor, 2022, Cadet Kyle Kass, 2023, and Cadet Benjamin Bennett, 2024. Together they are present at many of West Point's athletic events, parades, and other ceremonial activities.

The Mules serve not only as West Point's mascot, but also as the mascot for the entire United States Army.

{| border="3"
|+ '''Former Army Mules'''
! Name !! Years !! Donor !! Notes
|-
! Mr. Jackson
| 1936–1948 || Remount Station, Front Royal, Virginia || First "official" mule
|-
! Pancho 
| 1939–1958 || [[Ecuador]] || Also known as "Skippy", a gift of Colon Alfaro, the Ecuadorian Ambassador to the US and father to two members of the class of 1939
|-
! Hannibal I 
| 1948–1964 || U.S. Army (a six-year veteran) || Originally named "Bud" and renamed by the Corps of Cadets, Hannibal I died in 1964 after being kicked by another mule
|-
! K.C. MO
| 1957–1969 || Mr. James M. Parker of [[Kansas City, Missouri]] || Known to throw his riders; retired early
|-
! Trotter
| 1957–1972 || U.S. Army 35th Quartermaster Pack Unit, [[Fort Carson]], [[Colorado]] || Named for his ability to trot long distances
|-
! Hannibal II
| 1964–1980 || The [[Hannibal, Missouri]] Chamber of Commerce || Originally named "Jack"
|-
! Buckshot
| 1964–1986 || A gift of the [[United States Air Force Academy]] || Exchanged for a ceremonial sword
|-
! Spartacus 
| 1973–1994 || Governor [[Warren E. Hearnes]] of [[Missouri]] || Nicknamed "Frosty" for his white muzzle
|-
! Ranger I
| 1978–1995 || [[United States Army Rangers|Ranger]] Association of [[World War II]] || Son of a [[Percheron]] draft mare and a Spanish jack
|-
! Black Jack
| 1985–1989 || Senator [[Albert Gore, Sr.]] of [[Tennessee]] || Died of cancer two days before the 1989 Army-Navy Game 
|-
! Traveler
| 1990–2002 || Anonymous || Also known as "Dan," known for his ability to do fancy steps
|-
! Trooper
| 1990–2002 || Mr. Bob Griffin of [[Houston]], Texas || Also known as "Ernie," known for his advanced training
|-
! Raider
| 1995–2011 || Quincy (IL) Notre Dame High School Foundation || Formerly known as "Joker." Known for his reddish color, white star on his forehead, calm demeanor and high level of sociability. Son of a [[Tennessee Walker]] mare
|-
! Ranger II
| 2002–2011 || Steven Townes, Class of 1975 || Also known as "George," known for his small size and shy character. Son of a [[Quarter Horse]] mare
|-
! General Scott
| 2002–2011 || Steven Townes, Class of 1975 || Also known as "Scotty." Known for his large size, beautiful dark coat and skittish tendencies. He is named for Lt. Gen. (Ret.) [[Willard Warren Scott, Jr.|Willard W. Scott Jr.]], a former USMA Superintendent and Army Mule supporter. Son of a [[Clydesdale horse|Clydesdale]] mare
|-
! Paladin
| Present || Steven Townes, Class of 1975 || formerly known as '''Jack'''. The son of a Percheron mare.
|-
! Stryker
| Present || Steven Townes, Class of 1975 || formerly known as '''Abe'''. The half-brother of Ranger III
|-
! Ranger III
| Present || Steven Townes, Class of 1975 || formerly known as '''Apache''' and '''Rocky'''. The newest member of the group, joined in February 2016.

|}

==References==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120207000048/http://www.goarmysports.com/trads/army-mules.html Army Mules – GoArmySports.com]

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{{USMA}}
{{Live animal mascots college}}

[[Category:Patriot League mascots]]
[[Category:United States Military Academy]]
[[Category:Donkey mascots]]
[[Category:Army mascots]]
[[Category:Individual mules]]
[[Category:Real-life animal mascots]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic donkeys]]
[[Category:Fictional mules]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1899]]