Sergeant Stubby

May 5, 2014
Children's book author Bausum's adult nonfiction debut introduces readers to "Sergeant" Stubby, a stump-tailed terrier mutt that became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment Yankee Division in WWI. His caretaker, James Robert Conroy, came across Stubby at a military training camp on Yale University campus and surreptitiously hid the dog aboard the Minnesota vessel when his unit traveled to the warfront in France. While Conroy worked as a scout and dispatch rider, Stubby used his skills to boost morale, alert others to the scent of gas, and point medics toward wounded allies on the battlefield. The dog learned to salute and was outfitted with his own ID tags, gas mask, and military coat with authentic patches and victory medals. Aside from an enduring tale of companionship, Bausum provides details into the lives of the soldiers, including their artillery, typical diet, and the realities of illness and "unspeakably horrid deaths." After the war, Stubby's notoriety continued with a stint in vaudeville and as mascot to the Georgetown University football team where Conroy was studying law. Bausum's narrative is solidly researched, if sometimes speculative, and effectively illustrates a meaningful relationship in which a special dog helped a soldier "see beyond the horror and uncertainty of combat to the beauty of just being alive." B&w photos.

April 15, 2014
Is the appeal of this book greater for dog lovers or military-history buffs? It's a toss-up, because the book's charm simply radiates off the page in all directions. Stubby was a genial terrier of uncertain breeding who began hanging around the Yale University training grounds of the 102d Infantry Regiment, soon to be shipped off to war (WWI, that is). Stubby's particular pal was James Conroy, a 25-year-old volunteer. Conroy's unit soon adopted Stubby as their pet. When it came time for deployment to Europe, Conroy smuggled Stubby onboard, and the pooch's charm led to his acceptance by the unit's higher-ups as an official mascot. Stubby stood by his men in the worst trench conditions, but Conroy remained his truest friend. Stubby became famous in Europe during the war, and his fame accompanied him back home at war's end. Stubby remained with Conroy until the dog's death in 1926, and this very engaging book serves as a tribute to canine courage and devotion. Another edition of this book is being published for middle graders (see p.48).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)