Posted on 07/29/2013 7:06:33 PM PDT by DogByte6RER
• "Sergeant Stubby"
Sergeant Stubby (1916 or 1917 – April 4, 1926), was the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. America's first war dog, Stubby served 18 months 'over there' and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and even once caught a German spy by the seat of his pants (holding him there until American Soldiers found him). Back home his exploits were front page news of every major newspaper.
• Early Life
Stubby was a stray Boston Terrier dog that appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut while a group of soldiers were training. The dog hung around as the men drilled and one soldier, Corporal Robert Conroy, developed a fondness for the mutt. When it came time for the outfit to ship out, Conroy hid Stubby on board the troop ship. The story goes that upon discovery by Conroy's commanding officer, Stubby saluted him as he had been trained to in camp, and the commanding officer was so impressed that he allowed the dog to stay on board.
• Military Service
Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and 17 battles. He entered combat on February 5, 1918 at Chemin des Dames, north of Soissons, and was under constant fire, day and night for over a month. In April 1918, during a raid to take Schieprey, Stubby was wounded in the foreleg by the retreating Germans throwing hand grenades. He was sent to the rear for convalescence, and as he had done on the front was able to improve morale. When he recovered from his wounds, Stubby returned to the trenches.
After being gassed himself, Stubby learned to warn his unit of poison gas attacks, located wounded soldiers in no man's land, and — since he could hear the whine of incoming artillery shells before humans could — became very adept at letting his unit know when to duck for cover. He was solely responsible for capturing a German spy in the Argonne. Following the retaking of Château-Thierry by the US, the thankful women of the town made Stubby a chamois coat on which were pinned his many medals. He also helped free a French town from the Germans. At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby home.
• After The War
After returning home, Stubby became a celebrity and marched in, and normally led, many parades across the country. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. Starting in 1921, he attended Georgetown University Law Center with Conroy, and became the Georgetown Hoyas' team mascot. He would be given the football at halftime and would nudge the ball around the field to the amusement of the fans.
Medals and Awards ...
• 3 Service Stripes
• Yankee Division YD Patch
• French Medal Battle of Verdun
• 1st Annual American Legion Convention Medal
• New Haven World War I Veterans Medal
• Republic of France Grande War Medal
• St Mihiel Campaign Medal
• Wound stripe, replaced with Purple Heart (1932)
• Chateau Thierry Campaign Medal
• 6th Annual American Legion Convention
• Humane Education Society Gold Medal
Stubby was also featured in the Brave Beasts exhibit at the Legermuseum in Delft, The Netherlands.
- Wikipedia
Sergeant Stubby, United States Army
That's one bad@ss dog!
He’s wearing his Iron Cross on his bum...
Thank you for the ping. Stubby was brilliant.
Obama’s army would have the infidel dog put down, and his unclean owner with him.
Cool story! I assume it is true.
Stubby was a pitbull and is in the Smithsonian in a glass case.
Stubby must have been a pit Boston mix then, I’ve had Bostons all my life, and I see Boston in his features.
Stubby was of some kind of pit bull, but Bostons were new and not like now, often called Boston Bulldogs or Boston Bull Terrier. They were of fighting dog stock. However, Stubby was decorated purely for fun by Pershing and was really nothing more than a mascot.
Slight modification to comments about Pershing, as per link later, but the “for fun” label remains. The dog wasn’t even officially allowed. So no real war dog.
Your own link shows he did more than just nothing
The poor dog is long gone and not here to defend himself
Actually it’s not about whether he did anything. What he did was not war dog material, he was not a war dog, not trained for anything, and was never genuinely awarded anything. He was a pretty typical dog smuggled and kept in the trenches against rules. He did some nice things but not much more than other dogs would do, and many were smuggled likewise. I’m sure he’s the only one to get publicity for it. Bottom line, the truth is the truth, despite the mirage paraded falsely so much it’s been taken for truth. Repeat it enough....
According to web sources, he was a Boston Terrier. He may have been a mix but looking at Wikipedia articles and comparing them, he looks like Boston Terrier. Most recognizable for me are his bulbous eyes, pits don’t have those big round eyes.
Great story. Thanks for linking.
General Pershing Lands In France: June 28, 1917 - General Pershing lands in France as Commander of the A.E.F. The French Officer behind general Pershing is General Peletier, the civilian to the left is Monsieur Rene Besnard.
Just saving his men from a gas attack was plenty.
I don’t see any “Boston Terrier” there.
Muzzle’s too long and he’s too tall.
Except for his color, he looks very much like my long gone “light” version AmStaff, Rowan.
Godsakes, people will strain gnats for no good reason at all.
I see that Stubby’s “history” is being rewritten to vanish his “pit bull” origins.
God forbid one be a hero, these days.
I like pits, but he’s clearly a Boston Terrier. As you point out, the eyes...head and face is overall all wrong to be a pit.
You’re a mite sour hon
Geez
Actually....its about the fact you detest pit bulls.........not that you’re an accuracy concern troll
Funny thing Google...silly me....I should have chetted up on you foist
Poor doggie.....a long dead combat vet from a war where literally there were millions of casualties in just single battles.....and where my grandpa fought btw
And yet You besmirch him......I’d wager his sacrifice on behalf of his country tops yorn. ...just a hunch
Shamey...
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