Adopted by Private J. Robert Conroy in 1917, Stubby became the mascot of the 26th Yankee Division. He learned bugle calls, drills & even a modified dog salute, putting his right paw on his eyebrow when duty called. Stubby had a positive effect on morale & was allowed to remain in the camp, even though animals were forbidden. When the division shipped out for France, Conroy smuggled him aboard. Hidden in the coal bin until the ship was at sea, Stubby was brought on deck, where comrades were won over by the canine soldier.
He was given special orders to accompany the division to the front lines, soon becoming accustomed to loud rifles & heavy artillery fire. An injury left him sensitive to the tiniest trace of gas &, during one early morning gas launch, Stubby ran through the trench barking at the soldiers, rousing them to sound the alarm & saving many from injury. He also had a talent for locating wounded men & would lead lost soldiers back to the safety of the trenches. He even caught a German soldier mapping out the layout of the Allied trenches, for which he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. By the end of the war, Stubby had served in 17 battles. He went on to visit the White House & was awarded many medals for his heroism, as well as a brick in the Walk of Honour at the United States World War I monument in Kansas City. Stubby died in Conroy's arms in 1926. His remains are featured in The Price of Freedom exhibit at the Smithsonian.
From wikipedia.org
