Sergeant Stubby: The Canine Hero of World War I

For centuries, dogs have accompanied soldiers into battle, but one extraordinary dog stood out during World War I. A stray dog befriended the men of the 102nd Infantry’s 26th Yankee Division while they trained at Yale. Named Stubby, this clever mutt even learned to salute by raising his paw to his eyebrow. When the division was deployed to France, the soldiers couldn’t leave him behind and smuggled him along.

The commanding officers eventually discovered the furry stowaway, but before they could send him back, Stubby saluted them. Amused and impressed, they allowed him to remain as the unit’s official mascot.

Stubby wasn’t just a morale booster; he became a true war hero. After enduring a gas attack, he developed a keen sensitivity to chemical threats, often racing through the trenches to warn his fellow soldiers of danger. He braved no-man’s land to assist medics in locating the wounded and even apprehended a German spy who had infiltrated an Allied foxhole, holding the intruder until troops arrived. This act of bravery earned him a promotion to sergeant, making him the first dog to hold a military rank in U.S. history.

By the war’s conclusion, Stubby had participated in 17 battles over 18 months, sustaining injuries twice and earning numerous medals, including a Purple Heart. His courage captured the hearts of the American public. He met Presidents Wilson, Harding, and Coolidge, became Georgetown University’s mascot, and inspired the children’s film Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero. Quite the legacy for a once-homeless stray!