In 1917, the world was in the midst of World War I. Corporal J. Robert Conroy was among the soldiers of the 102nd infantry, 26th division, known as the “Yankee Division,” camped at Yale Field in New Haven, Connecticut. While enjoying his rations one day, he noticed that a homeless boy had wandered into camp. Other soldiers turned to look then returned to their duty. Corporal Conroy shared his meager rations and their friendship began. Even though one was a soldier and the other was not, they were almost inseparable. Pretty soon, most of the soldiers of the 102nd infantry had befriended him. Then, Corporal Conroy learned that his division would be shipping out soon to France. Corporal Conroy was concerned about the wellbeing of his new friend and led a small conspiracy which was so secretive that most of the details of it remain a mystery. What we know for certain is that when the USS Minnesota left for France, Corporal Conroy’s friend was a stowaway.
For some time, the conspirators kept the stowaway a secret. Each saved small portions from their meals to give the stowaway, but the top brass learned about the scheme. The conspirators and the stowaway could have been sent to the brig to await punishment, but the United States needed all the soldiers it could get. They fitted the stowaway with a uniform and other necessary accoutrements, and the stowaway became a private. As soon as they arrived in France, the 102nd infantry left for the front. No one knew what to expect from the private. Unlike all of the other soldiers around him, the private had no training. Would he fight or run? The soldiers of the 102nd infantry taught him what little they could along the way. By the time they got to the trenches, the private had befriended just about every soldier in the whole division. Remember, just a few weeks earlier, he was homeless and had to beg for food.
Like the other soldiers of the 102nd infantry, the private was stunned by the explosions and endless gunfire, but he proved to be a brave soldier during each fight. On April 20, 1918, the 102nd infantry fought the Germans at the town of Seicheprey, France. During the battle, the Germans captured the town, but the 102nd infantry counter-attacked that night. The Germans were forced to retreat, but at a terrible price. During the counterattack, many soldiers were wounded or killed. Among the wounded was the private who was struck in the chest by a piece of shrapnel from an enemy hand grenade. Everyone, including the Army surgeons, thought the wound was fatal. Morale in the 102nd infantry hit rock bottom. Six weeks later, their morale rebounded when the private returned to his outfit. By the time the war ended, the private had served in 17 battles and had earned many medals for bravery including the Victory Medal with cross bars indicating his participation in major engagements and the Silver Victory Button for being wounded. Back home, the private became a celebrity. He was featured in parades across the country. He met with Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. In July 1921, General John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of the American forces in Europe during the war, awarded the private with a solid gold medal with his name engraved on it. The once homeless boy who unintentionally became a private and the “Hero of the Yankee Division,” was a bull terrier, a dog named “Stubby.”
Sources:
1. The Indianapolis News, July 9, 1921, p.5.
2. The World News (Roanoke, Virginia), July 12, 1921, p.4.
3. The Chattanooga News, October 20, 1923, p.14.
4. The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tennessee), March 28, 1926, p.8.