Move over, Rin Tin Tin. Here comes Sgt. Stubby! That German shepherd
star of the silver screen may have been born behind enemy lines during
World War I, but Stubby, the stump-tailed terrier, worked behind enemy
lines, and gained military honors along the way. Private Robert Conroy
casually adopted the orphan pup while attending basic training on the
campus of Yale University in 1917. The Connecticut volunteer never
imagined that his stray dog would become a war hero. He just liked the
little guy. When Conroy's unit shipped out for France, he smuggled his
new friend aboard. By the time Stubby encountered Conroy's commanding
officer, the dog had perfected his right-paw salute. Charmed, the CO
awarded Stubby mascot status and sent him along with Conroy's unit to
the Western Front. Stubby's brave deeds earned him a place in history
and in the Smithsonian Institution where his stuffed body can still be
seen. Almost 100 years later, Stubby's great deeds and brave heart make
him an animal hero to fall in love with and treasure all over again.