In 1917, Private Robert J. Conroy was undergoing military training in the area of Yale University found a puppy wandering around the fields of Yale University with a short tail who he decided to name Stubby.
Conroy brought Stubby back to camp, and although pets were not allowed,
Stubby proved good for the soldiers’ morale and was able to stay. While
living with the soldiers, clever young Stubby trained as well.
He
learned how to salute with his paw and became familiar with bugle calls
and marching routines.
When Stubby emerged, most of the soldiers were ecstatic. However, when
the commanding officer discovered the dog, he was less than pleased.
Perhaps sensing he was in trouble, Stubby gave the CO a salute, which
impressed the CO so much that he allowed Stubby to stay on. The 102nd division would later be grateful for the addition of Stubby to their lines, as you’ll soon see.
The 102nd reached the front lines in France on February 5,
1918. They were under constant fire, and Stubby became used to the
gunshots and explosions that were now part of his everyday life. All too
soon, Stubby sustained his first injury: inhaling toxic gas landed
Stubby in the hospital, where he was treated alongside his two-legged
comrades.
He made a full recover, but the encounter with the dangerous gas left
Stubby sensitive to the smell. This came in very useful during a German
gas attack a while later, which happened in the morning while most of
the soldiers were asleep. When Stubby smelled the offending gas, he
started barking and roused most of the soldiers before they inhaled too
much, saving many lives.
In one incident, Stubby captured a German spy. The man was mapping out
the Allied trenches when he spotted Stubby and called out to him in
German. Stubby, recognizing it as the language of the enemy, charged the
man down and attacked him, keeping him in one place until United States
soldiers arrived to cart the new prisoner off.
Stubby was promoted to
the rank of sergeant for capturing this spy, becoming the first dog to
achieve such a rank in the United States Army—not to mention surpassing
his owner’s rank (now a corporal) in the process!
In 1926, at the age of 9 or 10, Stubby passed away. His body was donated
to the Smithsonian Institute where it was preserved and put on display,
along with his medals.
Stubby’s medals included:
- 3 Service Stripes
- Yankee Division YD Patch
- French Medal
- 1st Annual American Legion Convention Medal
- New Haven WW1 Veterans Medal
- Republic of France Grande War Medal
- St Mihiel Campaign Medal
- Purple Heart
- Chateau Thierry Campaign Medal.
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