By the time of World War 1 the American Pit Bull Terrier had become a well-loved and desired dog. In fact, the Pit Bull was used as America’s canine mascot of the time.

In fact, the first dog to travel across America was a Pit Bull by the name of Bud. He did so with the first persons (Horatio Jackson and his assistant and “bicycle” mechanic Sewall Crocker) to cross America in a car. Horatio later donated Bud’s goggles to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. During the trip Bud would assist in watching out for large bumps in the road and often received as much if not more attention by the press than did Jackson. After the trip was completed Bud bravely guarded the Jackson home until his death of old age.

In 1917 a Pit Bull by the name of Sgt. Stubby became a war hero for saving several soldiers lives and even capturing a German Spy. John Robert Conroy found Stubby as a stray at the age of several weeks on the Yale campus in 1917. Stubby marched with the men and even learned an approximate salute. When Conroy’s unit shipped out to France, Stubby was smuggled aboard the USS Minnesota. Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and 17 battles. He 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. Stubby’s presence served to lighten the stress on the men’s lives. In April 1918, during a raid to take Shieprey Stubby was wounded in the foreleg by the retreating Germans throwing grenades. He was sent to the rear for convalescence, and like 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 himself, Stubby learned to warn his unit of poison gas attacks, located wounded soldiers in no-mans land, and – since he could hear the whine of incoming artillery shells before humans could – became very adept at letting his unit know when to duck for cover. He was even solely responsible for capturing a German spy in Argonne.

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. In his later years Stubby attended Georgetown University with John Conroy from 1922-23 and became the Georgetown Hoya’s mascot while Conroy was there. Stubby was given the football at halftime, and nudged the ball around the field to the amusement of the fans in the stadium. Stubby passed away on March 16, 1926 in Conroy’s arms. On Christmas 1918 at Mandres-en-Basigny Stubby met President Woodrow Wilson and shook his hand. After the war, Stubby became a celebrity and marched in many parades. He also met Presidents Calvin Coolidge and Warren G Harding. Stubby was made a life member of the American Legion, the Red Cross and the YMCA. In 1921 General John Pershing awarded him a special gold medal for service to his country. Today Stubby's remains are preserved and can be seen at the Smithsonian exhibit, The Price of Freedom: Americans at War. His medals and awards consisted of: · 3 Service Stripes · Yankee Division YD Patch · French Medal Battle of Verdun · 1st Annual American Legion Convention Medal Minneapolis, Minnesota Nov 1919 · New Haven WW1 Veterans Medal · Republic of France Grande War Medal · St Mihiel Campaign Medal · Wound stripe, replaced with Purple Heart when introduced in 1932 · Chateau Thierry Campaign Medal · 6th Annual American Legion Convention · Humane Education Society Gold Medal