Isn’t it remarkable, this Sgt Frank Stubbs Plaque? It commemorates a truly special war hero. This hero wasn’t a soldier. He was a dog.
Sgt Frank Stubbs, as he came to be known, wasn’t your average canine. He began as a stray puppy. Private J. Robert Conroy found him in 1917. This was on the Yale University campus. The 102nd Infantry Yankee Division was training there for combat deployment. Conroy named him Stubby because of his short tail.
Stubby quickly became the mascot of the 102nd. He boosted their morale. He followed their daily training. He even learned to salute. He raised his right paw to his eyebrow. When Conroy’s unit shipped out to France, he smuggled Stubby aboard. The commanding officer found Stubby. But, he allowed him to stay. Stubby improved the men’s mood.
During the Great War, Stubby participated in many battles. He frequently led wounded soldiers to safety. He barked to summon help. He helped soldiers who were too injured to move. He alerted his unit to deadly gas attacks. He used his acute sense of smell. Stubby himself was injured. He was taken to a hospital. He often visited other recovering soldiers there.
Once, Stubby subdued a German spy. He bit him. He held onto him. The 102nd Infantry’s commanding officer requested a promotion for him. Stubby received the title of Sergeant. He became the first dog with a rank in the United States Armed Forces.
After a battle to liberate the French town of Chateau Thierry, Stubby received a gift. Local women gave him a hand-sewn blanket. It was embroidered with Allied flags. Medals and souvenirs were added to this garment. After leaving the army, Conroy toured with Stubby. They boosted morale during and after wartime. Stubby led American troops in parades. He received memberships in the YMCA and the American Legion. He also got a medal from the Humane Society. Stubby even met Presidents Harding, Coolidge, and Wilson.
Sadly, Sgt Frank Stubbs died in 1926. But his legacy lives on. His body was preserved. You can see it at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. In 2018, a statue honored him. It stands at the Connecticut Trees of Honor Memorial. Here, this Sgt Frank Stubbs Plaque stands as a testament. It honors a brave dog. He served his country and his fellow soldiers with distinction. He truly was an American hero.