Right: Sergeant Stubby in 1920. Photograph in the Public Domain.

On the campus of Yale University in July 1917, a young (1-2 years old) Boston terrier mutt wandered to the parade grounds where young Army members of the 102nd Infantry were training. The dog immediately became attached to Corporal James Robert Conroy and a (dog's) lifetime of love, friendship and comradeship began. Conroy hid the pup aboard ship departing from Newport News, Virginia, to France to fight in the First World War. Named "Sergeant Stubby" for his bobbed tail, the pup was taught by Corporal Conroy to salute--whereupon the canine companion would sit up on his hind legs, and pull his right paw up to his head. Sergeant Stubby even had his own dog tags which read "STUBBY, 102nd INF, 26th DIV." (Bausum, 2014, p.24, 48)

Video 1: The Amazing Story of Sgt. Stubby  |  Video 2: Stubby: World War One Hero

Left: Sgt. Stubby wearing his coat, dog tag and medals. Photograph in the Public Domain.

In 5 February 1918, Conroy and Stubby reached the front lines in France at Chemin des Dames highway, where the duo experienced and survived their first gas attack. Stubby became seriously wounded from shrapnel on 20 April 1918, and spent the next six weeks recovering before rejoining Conroy and the rest of the Yankee Division.

During the summer of that year, Conroy and Stubby participated in the Marne Campaign and liberation of Chateau-Thierry. Women in the town made Sergeant Stubby his frst uniform jacket (shown in photos here). The Yankee Division particpated in a diversionary operation during the Meuse-Argonne Campaign in September. It is during this operation That Sergeant Stubby captured a German infiltrator by biting him and holding onto his trousers, holding him long enough for (human) members of his Yankee Division. In November, both Conroy and Stubby were both wounded  in action by poison gas, but both recovered. The armistice was signed on 11 November 1918 at 11am, thereby ending the First World War. (Bausum, 2014, p. 216-217)

Right: AEF Commander General John Pershing awards Sergeant Stubby with a medal from the Humane Education Society at a White House ceremony, 1921. Photograph in the Public Domain.

On Christmas Day, Sergeant Stubby shakes hands (paws) with President Woodrow Wilson on his visit to the Yankee Division at Montigny-le-Roi, France. Upon their return home to the U.S., Conroy and Stubby took part in numerous post-war parades and celebrations. Sergeant Stubby passed peacefully at home in Conroy's arms on 16 March 1926. Conroy immediately had his loyal friend's remains preserved. (Bausum, 2014, p. 216-220) Google searches (Wikipedia) advise Stubby's taxidermy 'mount' is on display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Suggested reading: Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation, by Ann Bausum. This touching book was published in 2014 by National Geographic.