SHANGRALA'S
SGT.
STUBBY
WAR
DOG
HERO!
Meet America's first war dog, a stray Pit Bull/Terrier mix, named Stubby.
He became Sgt. Stubby, was the most decorated war dog of World War I
and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat.
One day he appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut;
while a group of soldiers were training, stopping to make friends
with soldiers as they drilled. One soldier, Corporal Robert Conroy,
developed a fondness for the dog. He named him Stubby because of his
short legs. When it became time for the outfit to ship out, Conroy
hid Stubby on board the troop ship. In order to keep the dog, the
private taught him to salute his commanding officers warming their
hearts to him.
Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the
trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives
and 18 battles. The loud noise of the bombs and gun fire did not
bother him. He was never content to stay in the trenches but went
out and found wounded soldiers.
Stubby 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 and nearly dying himself, Stubby learned to warn
his unit of poison gas attacks, continued to locate 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. The
spy made the mistake of speaking German to him when they were alone.
Stubby knew he was no ally and attacked him biting and holding
on to him by the seat of his pants until his comrades could secure him.
Following the retaking of Chateau-Thierry by the US, the thankful
women of the town made Stubby a chamois coat on which were pinned
his many medals.
There is also a legend that while in Paris with
Corporal Conroy, Stubby saved a young girl from being hit by a car.
At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby home.
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.
Stubby was made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross,
and the YMCA. In 1921, the Humane Education Society awarded him a
special gold medal for service to his country. It was presented by
General John Pershing.
In 1926, Stubby died in Conroy's arms. His remains are featured in
The Price of Freedom: Americans at War exhibit at the Smithsonian.
Stubby was honored with a brick in the Walk of Honor at the United
States World War I monument, Liberty Memorial, in Kansas City at a
ceremony held on Armistice Day, November 11, 2006.
|
Warm All Your Friends With This Story
Of The World's Bravest Pit Bull Dog! :)
SEE ALSO: Wiener War Dogs!
^BACK To TOP^
For those of you who Want More FUN - Visit The Shangy Fun List! Variety is the
spice of life! The Shangy Fun List is an ezine packed full of Poems, Inspirational and
Heart Warming Stories. Jokes from G to slightly R, and Anything else that just
might make you SMILE! Join In The Free FUN!! ... :)
Yes! Click Here To GO TO THE ARCHIVES!-
Like This Page?
If you are looking for more, here are some good places to start:
Why My Son?-
Dog Warriors!-
Military Dogs!-
Pit Bull Heroes!-
K9 9/11 Heroes!-
Thank You Lord!-
Lest We Forget 2!-
War Pics: Daily 3!-
WWI Human Art!-
Rolling Memorial!-
No Words Needed!-
Freedom Isn't Free!-
War Pics: Humor 2!-
Military WWII Posters!-
Proud Of Our Troops 6!-
Judy - POW War Dog Hero!-
Military Motivational Posters!-
FULL 9/11 And Troops INDEX!-
USS New York LPD-21 Tribute!-
A-Z Animated Images!-
-To SHANGRALA-
Special THANKS Goes To TAMMY BIGHAM For Sharing This With Us.
Copyright © 1996 Netscape Communications Corporation. Mozilla is
a trademark of Netscape Communications Corporation.
Note: This is an Unofficial God, Jesus Christ, Family, & Cartoon Fan Site.
© All graphics representing Disney characters are copyrighted by Disney.
Likewise all other graphics & music Copyright © by their own Individual Artists.
I do not own any graphics on this site. If you do, please notify me
and I'll give
you proper credit, a link, or remove it immediately according to your wishes.
~*~ Copyright © 1997-2012 Elrhea M. Bigham ~*~