06/07/2026
Sergeant Stubby was a stray dog whose heroic service during World War I (1914–18) saved lives and even led to the capture of a German spy. He was the unofficial mascot for the 102nd Infantry, 26th “Yankee” Division, and is the first dog to be promoted to the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Army.
When the 102nd Infantry was training for battle on the grounds of Yale University in 1917, a stray dog made friends with members of the company. Pvt. J. Robert Conroy developed a bond with the dog, and he and other soldiers named the dog “Stubby.” Stubby’s breed was unknown, but he had a distinctive tiger-striped coat.
The dog became the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry at Yale, though dogs were not allowed in the camp, a rule that was overlooked because Stubby was good for morale. He even learned to salute by raising his right paw toward his face. When the soldiers shipped out for France to fight in World War I, Conroy smuggled the dog aboard the ship, and Stubby soon befriended the other troops.
Serving on the front lines
Stubby’s saluting trick came in handy when he arrived in France along with Conroy and the other infantry members. Stubby saluted Conroy’s commanding officer, winning a place in his heart and, as it would turn out, a trip to the front lines as the 102nd’s mascot.
Stubby soon moved beyond his role as mascot to become an important asset to the troops in battle. He survived being wounded from exposure to mustard gas, recovering in a field hospital. After that exposure, Stubby was able to detect even small amounts of poisonous gas. When his division was under a gas attack, Stubby immediately recognized the smell and ran through the trenches, barking to alert everyone, and saving many soldiers from serious harm.
Stubby’s battlefield skills extended beyond gas detection. During the 17 battles he was involved in during his 18 months of service, he also located wounded men lying in fields between the trenches. His barks alerted searchers who then brought the wounded to safety.
