Ralph’s House would love to thank the men and women who risk their lives to make this country a wonderful home to us all.
We would also like to highlight one of our 4 legged friends who took to the front lines to defend our freedom.
Sergeant Stubby
Stubby was described as a Boston Terrier or “bull terrier” mix. He was found wandering the grounds of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, in July 1917, while members of the 102nd Infantry were training. Stubby lingered around as the men drilled, and one soldier in particular, Corporal James Robert Conroy (1892–1987), developed a fondness for him. When it came time for the outfit to ship out, Conroy hid Stubby on board the troop ship. As they were disembarking in France, he concealed Stubby under his overcoat to avoid detection. Upon discovery by Conroy’s commanding officer, Stubby saluted him, a trick he had learned in camp. Impressed, the officer allowed the dog to stay with the unit.
Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment in the trenches in France for 18 months, participating in four offensives and 17 battles. He entered combat on February 5, 1918, at Chemin des Dames, north of Soissons, where he endured constant fire day and night for over a month. In April 1918, during a raid to retake Seicheprey, Stubby was wounded in his foreleg by retreating Germans throwing hand grenades. Sent to the rear for recovery, Stubby boosted morale there, just as he had on the front lines. Once he healed, he returned to the trenches.
During his first year of combat, Stubby was injured by mustard gas. After his recovery, he returned with a specially designed gas mask. He quickly learned to alert his unit to mustard gas attacks, locate wounded soldiers in no man’s land, and—since he could hear incoming artillery shells before humans—became skilled at warning his unit when to duck for cover. He was credited with capturing a German spy in the Argonne, which led to his unit’s commander nominating Stubby for the rank of sergeant. Following the retaking of Château-Thierry by U.S. forces, the town’s women made Stubby a chamois coat on which his medals were displayed. He was later injured again, this time in the chest and leg by a grenade, ultimately earning two wound stripes. At the end of the war, Stubby and Conroy returned home in 1918.
After returning, Stubby became a national celebrity, often leading parades across the country. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. Stubby also appeared on vaudeville stages owned by Sylvester Z. Poli and received lifetime memberships to the American Legion and the YMCA.
In 1921, General of the Armies John J. Pershing awarded Stubby a gold medal from the Humane Education Society, an event captured in a famous photograph and other artistic media. That same year, Stubby joined Conroy at Georgetown University Law Center, where he became the mascot of the Georgetown Hoyas.
Thank you to Sergeant Stubby and everyone who works so hard to keep America the greatest nation in the world.
