Who was one of the heroes of World War I…who saved his regiment from a mustard gas attack and single-handedly caught a German soldier by the seat of his trousers? He wasn’t a soldier, marine, or airman. He was Sergeant Stubby, the most decorated dog of the war.
Sergeant Stubby, ready for duty. (Duriez)
Seen here in this colorized photograph from 1920, Stubby was a diminutive pooch – a small Boston terrier mutt – but he had the heart of a soldier. In his 18 months of active duty, Sergeant Stubby joined his regiment in 17 battles of World War I’s Western Front. Here is the story of Sergeant Stubby and his impressive military career.
Of Dubious Origins
Stubby enlisted in the army when he joined the 102nd Infantry training on the grounds of Yale University. (honesttopaws.com)
Nothing is known of Stubby’s parentage. Although he appeared to resemble the Boston terrier, it seemed likely that there were many dog breeds running through Stubby’s DNA. Luckily, he was able to glean the best qualities from each of these breeds to help him become an outstanding soldier. In July, 1917, members of the 102nd Infantry were doing training exercises on the grounds of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. The small brindle pup, a stray running around the campus, took an instant liking to one of the soldiers, Corporal James Robert Conroy. The two shared a tight bond, but Stubby, as he was named, was popular among all the soldiers.
Stubby the Stowaway
When his unit shipped out, so did Stubby. (owlcation.com)
When it came time for the 102nd Infantry to ship out, Corporal Conroy couldn’t bear to leave his buddy, Stubby, behind. So, he hatched a plan. He hid Stubby aboard the ship where the commanding officers wouldn’t see him. When the unit arrived in France, Corporal Conroy hid Stubby in his overcoat and tried to exit the ship nonchalantly. His plan failed. Conroy was caught by his commanding officer. When he pulled Stubby out from beneath his coat, however, the dog raised one paw and saluted the officer. The officer was so impressed that he instantly fell in love with Stubby and permitted the dog to remain with the troops. Stubby became the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry.
Wounded in War
Stubby with Corporal Conroy. (pinterest.com)
On February 5, 1918, Stubby entered combat along with Conroy and the rest of the soldiers. They were sent to Chemin des Dames where they were under fire for more than a month. In the final days of the siege, Stubby was wounded in action. He took some shrapnel from a German grenade to one of his front legs. He was transported to the aid station in the rear for treatment and, during his stay in the infirmary, Stubby boosted the morale of the wounded soldiers around him. Later, upon his return to the trenches, Stubby was hurt again when he breathed in mustard gas. The soldiers rigged a gas mask for him to wear to protect him from future attacks, but Stubby learned quickly to sense an impending mustard gas attack.
A War Hero
Stubby was promoted to the rank of sergeant. (military.com)
Stubby used his ability to detect mustard gas to warn his regiment about approaching mustard gas. Several times, he was able to keep his unit safe. Stubby’s keen sense of hearing also enabled him to hear the high-pitched shrill of incoming artillery before the human soldiers, giving him time to alert his men to duck for cover. Once, Stubby apprehended a German spy all by himself. He held tight to the spy’s backside until men from his unit arrived.
A Promotion
Stubby was an important member of his unit. (reviewjournal.com)
Stubby had certainly proven himself to be an able soldier and an asset to the 102nd Infantry. The unit’s commanding officer nominated Stubby to be promoted to the rank of sergeant. During his time in the military, Stubby earned many medals of distinction and honor, which he wore proudly on his chamois coat, as seen in this colorized photograph from 1920. Stubby was the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to the rank of sergeant through combat.
Shipped Home
Sergeant Stubby appeared in several parades. (laphamsquarterly.org)
Despite his service to his country, the U.S. Army was not keen on shipping Sergeant Stubby home when the rest of the 102nd Infantry departed France. No worries, thought Corporal Conroy. He simply smuggled Stubby on-board the ship the same way he snuck him on when the unit first shipped out. The exploits of Stubby made front page news across the country and Stubby was treated like the war hero he was. When he died, his body was given to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C.
The image at the top of this post was colorized by Frederic Duriez, a French collector and colorizer of historical photos. You can see more of his work on his Flickr page.
