Meet ‘Sergeant Stubby’—A WWI Dog Who Wandered Onto A U.S. Army Training Ground In 1917
Published: 22 February 2025
By Scott Travers
via the Forbes Magazine website
Sergeant Stubby
Sergeant Stubby supported his division through 17 battles in 18 months, survived a grenade blast and even caught a spy within the ranks. Here’s his iconic story. (Associated Press)
As history has shown, animals have never been spared from the horrors of war. Horses carried cavalry through blood-soaked battlefields, pigeons risked the skies as couriers and dogs patrolled the trenches, sniffing out dangers before human senses could register them.
Of all the animals enlisted in the Great War, none left a legacy quite like Sergeant Stubby—a stray dog who went from an unknown mutt to one of the most decorated war heroes in American military history.
Over 18 grueling months, he survived mustard gas attacks, artillery barrages and enemy fire while serving alongside the 26th “Yankee” Division.
He wasn’t just a mascot—he was a soldier.
Sergeant Stubby Participated In 17 Battles In 18 Months
It all started in 1917 when a short-tailed, tiger-striped stray wandered onto the training grounds of the 102nd Infantry Regiment at Yale University in Connecticut.
The soldiers took a liking to him—especially one named J. Robert Conroy, a private at the time, who unofficially adopted him. Stubby, ever the quick learner, responded to bugle calls, marched in formation and even learned to salute by raising his paw.
Conroy and his famed war dog, Stubby, during World War I. Conroy would later rise to the rank of corporal, while Stubby earned the title of sergeant. (Associated Press)
The real test came when the regiment shipped out to France.
Since army rules strictly forbade pets, Conroy smuggled Stubby aboard their transport ship, the SS Minnesota, hiding him in an overcoat. By the time they reached the front lines, the dog’s presence was no longer a secret—but it didn’t matter.
He had already won over the commanding officers with his now-famous dog salute. From then on, Stubby became a permanent fixture in the trenches, enduring 17 battles across the Western Front.
He had a nose for trouble—literally.
→ Read the entire article on the Forbes website.
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