Little is known about his early life prior to 1917 other than he was a popular stray who was living off the garbage and handouts of Yale University students. In July of 1917 though his life would change forever. With the arrival and training of 102nd Infantry division. He would become well acquainted with these doughboys in training but would form a special bond with one Corporal Robert Conroy. Conroy would go as far as to sneak this lonely stray aboard the departing ship taking these men ( and dog) to their new vision of hell in the French trenches. Story has it this little dog, when found by the CO raised his paw in what seemed like a salute and won the CO over.
Named Stubby, he would be thrust into the heavily battered trenches of Chemins des Damnes. He would soon prove himself to the units by running out and attacking German Grenadiers and advancing gunnery units. Sustaining some slight wounds. He was soon transported to the medical services in the back lines where this brave pup would make his rounds visiting the soldiers and improving moral as he healed himself.
In just one year Stubby would sustain gas attacks, the terror of shelling and machine gun fire, and every other horror of war. Determined and loyal, he would use his superior senses smell and hearing and run the trenches warning the men of gas creeping the field or that German shells were on their way. His service to his unit knowing no bounds, the brave pooch would take to no mans land to find injured soldiers, attack incoming German units, and just keep a eye out for the enemy or any of his own friends who may be stuck in the worst places imaginable. In the end he had suffered shrapnel that almost took his life, lungs full of gas, grenade explosions, bullet wounds, and untold psychological horrors. Even once finding and biting a German Trench spy until his unit could detain the threat.
This Best Friend of Man would go onto having his own cloak made from an old USArmy jacket were he could display his numerous awards and recognitions. Including two injury strips, a Republic of France War Medal, a Purple Heart, The Medal of Verdun, several campaign award medals, and while following along with his boys to escort the captive German spy back to his unit, the German soldiers CO would strip him of his Iron Cross and award it to Stubby. Sometime in all this he would be given a battlefield promotion of Sergeant. Outranking even his owner, Corporal Robert Conroy.
Sergeant Stubby would eventually return home to the state with Conroy where he would be again awarded a specially made Dog of War Medal By general Pershing himself. Would be become a member of the American Legion and would become the mascot of Georgetown University. His service would continue at home by traveling the country with Conroy to boost American moral and raise awareness about the the terror of The Great War being fought in Europe.
After the war Sergeant Stubby would finally find a brief time of comfort and peace after a difficult life that started out as a stray not knowing where his next meal would be or how he would keep warm at night. Then being thrust into the worst hell anyone could find themselves in. If at least for the time. His list of accomplishments great and vast, he enjoy free food for life at all YMCA's and Legions. Eventually, like all things, Stubby's time would fade. At the age of ten, in the year 1920, Sergeant Stubby of the 102nd Infantry would leave this world forever. What German mustard gas, machine guns, bombing, and the diseased trenches could not do, time made up for. Going down in history as a war hero and the the most decorated dog of WW1 and the United States Military.
Sergeant Stubby... We salute you!
Benedict Arnold 