The Yale Educated Dog Turned Soldier Who Was A WWI Hero And Captured A Spy
One of the United State’s greatest heroes was a small dog who showed his bravery over and over again
Heroes can come in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes even as different species. One of these alternative purveyors of bravery was Sergeant Stubby, a small dog who began as an army unit’s mascot during World War I and ended up as one of its most distinguished members, saving lives and even single-handedly apprehending a spy.
Of unknown heritage, Stubby was most frequently described as a mixed breed that was predominantly either Boston or American Bull Terrier. In 1917, the 102nd Infantry was drilling at Yale University in preparation for their deployment overseas to fight in WWI when they discovered the dog wandering the grounds. He quickly became a favorite of the soldiers, as he made friends with them all, spending different nights in various tents as he pleased. Ultimately he was taken in by Corporal James Conroy, who loved the irascible pooch.
When the 102nd shipped out for France aboard the S.S. Minnesota, Stubby was smuggled on board under Conroy’s overcoat. The commanding officer did eventually find him, but after the dog performed a trick of saluting him like the soldiers had been training him…
