Stubby The War Hero had a Huge Heart Like All Our Heros : Dave’s Diary

One day he appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut; while a group of soldiers were  training, stopping to make friends with soldiers as they drilled. One soldier, Corporal Robert Conroy developed a fondness for the dog. He named him Stubby because  of his short legs.

When it became time for the outfit to ship out,  Conroy hid Stubby on board the troop ship. To keep the dog, the  private taught him to salute his commanding officers warming their hearts to him .

Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and some 18 battles. The loud noise of the bombs and gun fire did not bother him. He was never content to just stay in the    trenches but eagerly went out,  searched and found wounded soldiers.

Stubby entered combat on February 5, 1918 at Chemin Des Dames, north  of Soissons, and was under constant fire, day and night for over a month.  In April 1918, during a raid to  take Schieprey, Stubby was wounded in the foreleg by the retreating Germans throwing hand grenades. He was sent to the rear for convalescence, and as he had done on the front was able to improve morale. When he recovered from his wounds, Stubby returned to the trenches.

After being gassed and nearly dying himself, Stubby learned to warn his unit of poison gas attacks, continued to locate wounded soldiers in no man's land, and since he could hear the whine of incoming artillery shells before humans could, he became very adept at letting his unit know when to duck for cover.

He was solely responsible for capturing a German spy in the Argonne. The spy made the  mistake of speaking German to him when they were alone. Stubby knew he was no ally and attacked him biting and holding on to him by the seat of his pants until his comrades could secure him.

Following the retaking of Chateau-Thierry by the US, the thankful women of the town made Stubby a chamois coat on which were pinned his many medals. There is also a  legend that while in Paris with Corporal Conroy, Stubby saved a young girl from being  hit by a car.

At the end of the war, Conroy smuggled Stubby home. After returning home, Stubby became a celebrity and marched in and normally led, many parades across the country. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and  Warren G. Harding.

Starting in 1921, he attended Georgetown University Law Center with Conroy, and became the Georgetown Hoyas' team mascot. He would be given the  football at halftime and would nudge the ball around the field to the amusement of the  fans.

Stubby was made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross and the YMCA.

In 1921, the Humane Education Society awarded him a special gold medal for his service  to his country. The medal was presented by General John Pershing.

Stubby a true war

hero before his time!