Sgt. Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 3

After the war, Sgt. Stubby was marched in many parades. Everyone wanted to see the hero dog they had read so much about in the newspapers. He met presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge and Warren G. Harding.

Starting in 1921, Sgt. Stubby attended Georgetown University Law Center with master Robert Conroy and became the football team's mascot. Stubby would be given the football at half time and he'd entertain the audience by pushing the ball around the field.

When he died in 1926, he was stuffed and currently on display at the Price of Freedom: Americans At War exhibit at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C..

Something to See in D.C.. --Cooter

Sgt. Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 2

Sergeant Stubby was a stray Boston terrier who appeared at Yale Field in New Haven, Ct., when it was being used to train soldiers. He continued to hang around and Corporal Robert Conroy developed a fondness for him.

When the unit shipped off, he hid Stubby on the troopship. A story has it that when Stubby was discovered by the unit's commander that he saluted the officer as he had learned at camp. The officer was so impressed that he allowed Stubby to remain with the unit.

The 102nd Infantry of the 26th (Yankee) Division spent 18 months in France's trenches. During that time, Stubby was gassed once and learned to alert his unit when it was being used.

One Smart Dog. --DaCoot

Sergeant Stubby: One Decorated Dog-- Part 1: Caught German Spy By the Seat of His Pants

From Wikipedia.

Last week I wrote about pit bulls and came across two from the Civil War and one who was promoted to sergeant during World War I. That one's name is Sgt. Stubby.

Born in 1916-1917-April 4, 1926. The most decorated dog of World War I and only dog ever promoted to sergeant through combat. Sgt. Stubby served 18 months and participated in 17 battles on the Western Front.
One of his fortes was saving his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks. He also found and comforted wounded from his regiment and once even caught a German spy by the seat of his pants, holding him until American soldiers arrived.

Every American newspaper covered his exploits back home

--Cooter

Pit Bulls Up Close and Personal

Back in the early 80s, we had some friends who had two pit bulls. The male was a big black and white one named Brutus and the female a brindle named Venus. I didn't like or trust Venus as she looked like she could be mean, although I never saw it.

However, as big and solid as Brutus was, he was nothing more than a big-lug scaredy cat. He thought he was a lap dog and if he jumped into your lap and clipped you with his really hard head, you were in for some pain.

And, you didn't want to be around him in a storm or fireworks. Thunder sent him trying to prove how close a dog and human really could get. Venus and Brutus had one litter of pups and they kept one woth the same markings as Brutus that they named Radar, who, while lovable, had to have been the dumbest dog who ever lived.

I should mention that as nice as Brutus was, there was one thing he would attack and that was a vacuum cleaner.

Remembering Ol' Brutus. --Cooter

Some More on Pit Bulls-- Part 2: Sallie and Jack

Pit bulls served in the military.

One named Sallie went along with the 11th Pennsylvania through most of the big battles in the Civil War as did one named Jack with the 102nd Pennsylvania.

Interesting stories on these two dogs which I will write about if and whenever I get this paragraph problem solved.

It will be in my Saw the Elephant Civil War Blog.

One was also the first U.S. Army dog promoted to sergeant. Helen Keller's dog was a pit, as was the Little Rascal's dog Petey.

A Real Dog-Gone Shame What Has Happened to the Noble Pitbull Breed.  . --DaCoot

Some More on Pit Bulls-- Part 1: History

The July 22, 2013, Time Magazine "The Softer Side of Pit Bulls:

A reviled breed gets a makeover" by Paul Tullis.

Well worth reading about efforts to reverse this breed's reputation.

Pit Bulls date to the 18th century when dogs often were categorized by the jobs they performed rather than how they looked. According to Bronwen Dickey, who is writing a book about the dogs, about 200 years ago "a terrier was any dog that dug for vermin. A bulldog was one that caught errant cattle."

These two working dogs are believed to have been crossbred around 1790, creating the bull terrier, or pit bull.

How Much Is That Doggie in the _____. --Cooter

Pity the Poor Pitbulls

Talk about a dog breed that gets a bad rep, these poor pooches have a real public relations problem. And, that bad rep was not always so.

At one time, they were just another dog, not the vicious killers they're regarded as today. Why, even the Little Rascals' "Petey" was a pitbull.

Other dogs having bad reputations in the past were the bloodhounds, partly for their reputation for tracking runaway slaves. Then starting in the 30s, it was the German shepherd dogs as they were regarded as being too closely associated with Hitler and the Nazis.

Of course, the problem revolves around the horrible people who raise them to kill other dogs in fights.

Too Bad. --DaCoot