Leanne's Printable Coloring Pages for Kids
Sergeant Stubby: A Soldier's Tale
You probably wouldn’t think a short, scruffy dog like me would end up in a war. I didn’t think so either. One minute, I was nosing around the campus of Yale University, sniffing for scraps and friendly pats, and the next... boom! I was following a bunch of boys in uniform to a place they called Camp Yale.
That’s where I met Private J. Robert Conroy. He smelled like home-cooked stew and boot polish, and he had a kind heart that showed through every time he slipped me a bite of something under the table. I liked him right away. So when he left for France, I wasn’t about to let him go without me.
Getting onto that ship wasn’t easy. I had to sneak and weave, tail low, ears perked, staying quiet as a mouse. When the sergeant finally spotted me mid-Atlantic, it was too late to turn back. The men just laughed and said, “Guess Stubby’s part of the unit now.” That’s how I became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and, if I do say so myself, their best morale booster.
France smelled different -- muddy, smoky, full of strange tangs of iron and sweat. I didn’t understand all the shouting or the distant thunder at first. But I learned quick. When the big guns fired, the ground shook right through my paws. When gas rolled in, I could smell it before the men did. I barked, tugged at sleeves, anything to make them put on those odd rubber masks. They started trusting my nose after that.
I wasn’t brave on purpose, you understand. I just couldn’t bear to see my boys hurt. So when shells burst near the trenches, I’d run out to find the wounded, sniffing through smoke and dirt until I caught the scent of someone who needed help. Sometimes I’d stay beside them, licking their hands, until the medics came. A few of the fellas said they saw me dragging one man to safety by his coat. Maybe I did. Things blur together in the noise.
Once, I even caught a German spy sneaking through the line. I heard a rustle and smelled something wrong like oil and fear mixed together so I barked. And when the spy tried to run, I went right for his pant leg. The men cheered like I’d won the war myself. That’s how I earned my first medal.
Don’t think I didn’t get scared. I did... lots of times. The sky would split open, the air would burn, and my ears would ring for hours. But I’d look around and see my men still standing, still smiling, still passing me bits of biscuit when they could. If they could be brave, I could too.
When the war finally ended, we marched in parades. I wore a little coat covered in medals, each one shining like the faces of my friends. People called me Sergeant Stubby by then, though rank didn't matter to me. All I knew was that I’d found a pack, and we’d come through together.
Now I’m an old dog, gray around the muzzle, but I still dream about those muddy fields and the men who laughed and sang in the dark. They were my family. And though I was just a small dog in a big war, I’d do it all again... for them.
Woof.
Print PDF of the Story and Coloring Pages
Just the Facts!
Sergeant Stubby was a remarkable dog who became the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. Here's a quick overview of his incredible story:
Who Was Sergeant Stubby?
- Breed: Likely a Boston Terrier mix.
- Found: Stubby was a stray who wandered onto the Yale University campus in 1917, where soldiers were training before deployment.
- Adopted by: Private J. Robert Conroy, who smuggled Stubby aboard the troop ship to France.
War Heroics
Stubby served with the 102nd Infantry Regiment, 26th (Yankee) Division in France for 18 months and participated in 17 battles. His contributions included:
- Warning soldiers of gas attacks: He could detect mustard gas before humans could.
- Locating wounded soldiers: Stubby would bark to alert medics.
- Capturing a German spy: He reportedly caught and held a German soldier by the seat of his pants until American troops arrived.
- Boosting morale: His presence was a comfort to troops in the trenches.
Honors and Recognition
- Stubby was promoted to Sergeant for his actions in combat.
- He received numerous medals, including one from General John J. Pershing.
- After the war, he became a celebrity, meeting three U.S. Presidents and marching in parades.
Post-War Life
Stubby lived with Conroy after the war and became a mascot for the Georgetown Hoyas football team. He passed away in 1926 and was later preserved and displayed at the Smithsonian Institution.
Print PDF of the Facts and Coloring Pages