HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut State Library unveiled a new statue of the famous World War I canine Sgt. Stubby, who was adopted by a Connecticut Guardsman, was able to smell incoming gas attacks before humans and is widely considered the first U.S. Military working dog, during an April 20 ceremony at the Library.
Cpl. J. Robert Conroy of the Connecticut National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment, adopted Stubby after the Boston Terrier mutt wandered onto the unit’s training grounds at Yale Field. Stubby, who later was smuggled to France, is also considered the most decorated U.S. military working dog.
“Sergeant Stubby probably never understood the details or purposes of World War I, the great ideals and visions of the political leaders,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut. “What he understood was loyalty to his buddies, which is what motivates a lot of our human heroes.”
The timing of the statue’s unveiling was significant. Earlier this month, April 4 marked the 100th anniversary of Stubby’s death. Also, April 20 is the anniversary of the Battle of Seicheprey, the United States’ first major military conflict during The Great War, in which the less experienced 102nd pushed back a larger, more seasoned German military.
“What we’re really celebrating today is another example, especially in the year of the [United States’ 250th anniversary], of Connecticut’s contribution to our great nation,” said Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon, adjutant general for the Connecticut National Guard, who also shouted out the 1-102nd, which is still an active unit and once again overseas fighting for our country.
But Stubby was more than just a mascot and friend of the 102nd; he was an integral part of the team. His acute olfactory senses could sense incoming gas attacks before any of the human members of the 102nd, allowing him to alert his comrades about the incoming dangers. If that wasn’t enough to prove he was a good dog, Stubby also is credited with capturing at least one German soldier during the war by biting his rear.
Stubby survived the war, despite being hospitalized after being caught in gas attacks and being injured by shrapnel from a grenade.
“Sgt. Stubby was loyal as the day is long,” Blumenthal said. “He came back after recovering from his wounds to the front lines and participated in battle after battle after battle, saving his fellow Army soldiers from the gas and the attacks that awaited them.”
Following the war, Stubby was a celebrity. He led parades, appeared at war bond rallies and met with Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding and Calvin Coolidge. His connection to the military never faded. Stubby reportedly visited wounded soldiers and helped family members ease into difficult conversations to understand what their loved ones experienced during the war overseas.
Curtis Deane, Conroy’s grandson, attended the unveiling and shared stories about his grandfather and his love for Stubby.
“I was always told by my father and grandfather that we were raised by dogs,” Deane said. “I learned that being raised by dogs meant learning the meaning of unconditional love, being both trustworthy and faithful, and living with dignity and without hesitation or regret, and caring for others who are less fortunate or in need.”
Conroy’s love for Stubby was eternal. According to Deane, Stubby passed away in his grandfather’s arms, and his grandfather never adopted another dog for the rest of his life.
“There's an old expression, speak the name of the dead, and they shall remain alive,” Deane said. “That's what I'm doing on behalf of my grandfather and Stubby.”
This new statue also will help keep Stubby’s memory alive, but like most heroes, the little four-legged pup’s legacy is cemented in the groundwork he laid for future generations. Because of Stubby and other war dogs like him, canines play a vital role in modern military operations. In fact, Connecticut is home to the 928th Military Working Dog Detachment, the only military working dog unit in the U.S. military's reserve components.