Sergeant Stubby

WWI Vet Sergeant Stubby

Sergeant Stubby: 1916-1926

Sergeant Stubby was a bull terrier type dog that was found as a stray on the Yale University campus by the 102nd Infantry, 26th Regiment. He was smuggled aboard ship when the regiment was shipped to France. When the commanding officer discovered him, Stubby saluted, as he had been trained to do by the soldiers. He was allowed to stay.

Stubby served for 18 months in the trenches of France and was wounded twice. He kept morale up among the troops at the front lines and with the injured soldiers. Stubby also warned soldiers of the presence of poison gas and incoming artillery. He was also credited with single-handedly catching a German spy in Argonne, France. For this accomplishment, he was nominated for rank of sergeant by his commanding officer. Stubby met three US Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren Harding. He is now stuffed and on view at the Smithsonian.