Sergeant Stubby

During 1917 an American (Pit) Bull terrier, strayed in an army camp of the 1st and 2nd Connecticut at “Camp Yale” training camp in the vicinity of the Yale Bowl, in New Haven, Connecticut.

Stubby as the dog became known, befriended Private J. Robert Conroy and the soldiers.  He soon became their “unofficial-official” mascot.  Stubby was smuggled aboard the troop ship S. S. Minnesota and hidden in a coal bunker until the ship had set sail for the shores of France.  Stubby was a very friendly little dog and kept the morale strong, on their arrival, the CO allowed Stubby to remain. Stubby did his part by running up and down the trenches, with his nose he would bark an early warning sign of muster gas, Stubby also alerted the troops of German attacks.

He soon became accustomed to the exploding bombs and heavy artillery; he was taken to a field hospital at the front when he was first exposed to muster gas which made his nose very sensitive.  Stubby also had instincts to locate wounded soldiers, when he heard the sound of spoken English he could direct the stretcher bearers.  It is believed he saved many lives.

In April 1918, the 102nd Infantry and Stubby, finally got their chance to prove their worth when they raided a German held town of Schieprey, As the Germans withdrew they threw hand grenades at the pursing troops.  It seems that Stubby got a little excited, a hand grenade exploded and wounded him in the front leg and shrapnel to his chest.  He was hospitalised to a Red Cross Recovery Hospital for additional surgery.  He became well enough to visit wounded soldiers and boosted morale, once again.  As the troops advanced they recaptured Chateau Thierry, where a woman of the town made Stubby a chamois blanket. Stubby could wear his numerous, medals, embroidered flags, wound stripe and his sergeants, three service chevrons etc. (This blanket can be found on display at the Hartford State Armoury, USA).

In Neufchateau, the home of Joan of Arc was where Stubby received his first medal.  At Argonne Stubby pinned down a German spy until the troops arrived and the spy was capture.  The troops confiscated the German’s Iron Cross and pinned it at the rear of Stubby’s blanket, over time this cross has been lost but there are so many decorations and souvenirs displayed on the blanket, today.

Stubby was put up for a promotion to the rank of Sergeant by the commander of the 102nd Infantry. Private J. Robert Conroy was Stubby’s master and was promoted to Corporal.  Stubby had been gassed a few times and again wounded, both of them where hospitalised together. Stubby was doing hospital duties for awhile until Conroy could return to the 102nd Infantry. He remained with Conroy through 17 battle honours with the infantry unit, until the end of their tour of duty and returned home.  Stubby was smuggled back to the States in the same way as he left, but now he was too well known to arrive without a fuss.

When Stubby returned to the US he went into retirement, but his life was just beginning as he travelled the length and breadth of America.  He was made a lifetime member of the American Legion and would parade each year until his own death in 1926.  He was a war Hero and was famous all over the United States, he met and shook paws with three Presidents - Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge - at the White House on several occasions.  Stubby became a life member of the American Red Cross and the YMCA and would regularly go on canvassing to recruit members for both organisations, he went on to sell Victory Bonds.

In 1921 he was awarded a Gold Hero Dog’s Medal by General John (Blackjac) C. Pershing, The Supreme Commander of the American Forces, the medal was commissioned by the Humane Society.

When J. Robert Conroy, began studying Law at Georgetown University, Stubby went along too! As a team mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas.  During the matches at half time Stubby was given a ball to play with to the delight of the fans.

On March 16, 1926 Stubby died in Conroy’s arm.  His remains were featured and exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.  D.C. Stubby was on show until Armistice Day in Kansas City on 11th November 2006.  He has been retired from view as his skin has deteriorated until he can be restored.  However, his blanket is still on show with his Sergeant stripes, Yankee Division Patch, Medal of Battle of Verdun, five campaign medals; wound Stripe replaced with a Purple Heart in 1932 and the Humane Society Gold Medal.

In 1978, Stubby was once again in the news with the launch of a children’s book entitled “Stubby-Brave soldier Dog”.