Sergeant Stubby


Stubby
Sergeant Stubby c. 1920
Born1916
DiedMarch 16, 1926 (aged 9–10)[1]
Place of display
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Years of service1917–18
Rank Sergeant
Unit102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th (Yankee) Division
Battles / warsWorld War I
AwardsGold Medal (Humane Education Society)
Wound stripe
Purple Heart (2)
Other workMascot for Georgetown Hoyas

Sergeant Stubby (1916 – March 16, 1926) was a dog and the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and was assigned to the 26th (Yankee) Division in World War I. He served for 18 months and participated in 17 battles and four offensives on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and allegedly once caught a German soldier by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him.[2] His actions were well-documented in contemporary American newspapers.[3][4][5]

Stubby has been called the most decorated war dog of the Great War and the only dog to be nominated and promoted to sergeant through combat.[6] Stubby's remains are in the National Museum of American History.[3][4][6] Stubby is the subject of the 2018 animated film Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero.

  1. ^ Bausum, Ann; Sharpe, David E., Foreword (2014). Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation (Print). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic. p. 220. ISBN 978-1426213106.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Goldsmith, Connie (2017). Dogs at War: Military Canine Heroes. Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books. p. 23. ISBN 978-1512410129.
  3. ^ a b "Stubby, World War I Canine Hero 1921". History wired. Smithsonian Institution. March 16, 2012. Archived from the original on November 17, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Kane, Gillian; Larson-Walker, Lisa, Illustrator (May 7, 2014). "Sergeant Stubby: America's original dog of war fought bravely on the Western Front—then helped the nation forget the Great War's terrible human toll". Slate.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) Reprinted in Kane, Gillian (May 24, 2014). "The story of Sergeant Stubby, WWI's most decorated dog". Stars & Stripes. Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  5. ^ "Stubby's Obituary: Stubby of A.E.F. Enters Valhalla". The New York Times. April 4, 1926 – July 16, 2003. Archived from the original on August 2, 2014. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  6. ^ a b ""The Price of Freedom" exhibition". Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on June 24, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.