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Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation
National Geographic tells the story of a stray dog who becomes Sergeant Stubby the War Dog during World War I. Beloved award-winning author and library darling Ann Bausum brings her friendly writing style and in-depth research to her first-ever book for adults.
Stubby's story begins in 1917 when America is about to enter the war. A stowaway dog befriends Private James Robert "Bob" Conroy at the Connecticut National Guard camp at Yale University and the two become inseparable. Stubby also wins over the commanding officer and is soon made an official member of the 102nd Infantry of the 26th division. What follows is an epic tale of how man's best friend becomes an invaluable soldier on the front lines and in the trenches, a decorated war hero and an inspiration to a country long after the troops returned home.
For those who loved New York Times bestseller Rin Tin Tin comes the memorable story of Sergeant Stubby--World War I dog veteran, decorated war hero, American icon, and above all, man's best friend.
Stubby's story begins in 1917 when America is about to enter the war. A stowaway dog befriends Private James Robert "Bob" Conroy at the Connecticut National Guard camp at Yale University and the two become inseparable. Stubby also wins over the commanding officer and is soon made an official member of the 102nd Infantry of the 26th division. What follows is an epic tale of how man's best friend becomes an invaluable soldier on the front lines and in the trenches, a decorated war hero and an inspiration to a country long after the troops returned home.
For those who loved New York Times bestseller Rin Tin Tin comes the memorable story of Sergeant Stubby--World War I dog veteran, decorated war hero, American icon, and above all, man's best friend.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2014
74 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Ann Bausum
28 books110 followersAnn Bausum writes about history for readers of all ages from her home in southern Wisconsin. Her works often focus on under-told stories from the past, and she frequently explores issues of social justice.
Her newest title, The March Against Fear (National Geographic: 2017), is her third work to examine the civil rights movement in the American South. In the case of these and other books, Bausum strives to bring the nation’s social justice history to life in ways that empower and inspire readers young and old alike. Her previous title, Stonewall (Viking: 2015), is among the first nonfiction books to introduce teens to gay rights history. Previous works have explored voting rights, immigration, and free speech, among other topics.
The almost-forgotten story of Stubby lured Bausum away from social justice history temporarily. She wrote twin titles about the stray dog smuggled to Europe during World War I who returned to a hero’s welcome. Both books were published in 2014 by National Geographic: Sergeant Stubby (for adult readers) and Stubby the War Dog (for children).
In the spring of 2017, the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C., will honor the body of Bausum’s work by presenting her with its venerable Nonfiction Award. This award recognizes the consistent commendation earned by her individual titles through the years. Bausum’s books have appeared consistently on lists of recommended and notable titles and have earned numerous literary awards including a Sibert Honor Award, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the Carter G. Woodson Award (on two occasions), and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award. In 2015, she was named the year’s Notable Wisconsin Children’s Author by the Wisconsin Library Association.
You may follow Bausum on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AnnBausum) and Twitter (@AnnBausum) or visit her online at www.AnnBausum.com
Her newest title, The March Against Fear (National Geographic: 2017), is her third work to examine the civil rights movement in the American South. In the case of these and other books, Bausum strives to bring the nation’s social justice history to life in ways that empower and inspire readers young and old alike. Her previous title, Stonewall (Viking: 2015), is among the first nonfiction books to introduce teens to gay rights history. Previous works have explored voting rights, immigration, and free speech, among other topics.
The almost-forgotten story of Stubby lured Bausum away from social justice history temporarily. She wrote twin titles about the stray dog smuggled to Europe during World War I who returned to a hero’s welcome. Both books were published in 2014 by National Geographic: Sergeant Stubby (for adult readers) and Stubby the War Dog (for children).
In the spring of 2017, the Children’s Book Guild of Washington, D.C., will honor the body of Bausum’s work by presenting her with its venerable Nonfiction Award. This award recognizes the consistent commendation earned by her individual titles through the years. Bausum’s books have appeared consistently on lists of recommended and notable titles and have earned numerous literary awards including a Sibert Honor Award, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the Carter G. Woodson Award (on two occasions), and the SCBWI Golden Kite Award. In 2015, she was named the year’s Notable Wisconsin Children’s Author by the Wisconsin Library Association.
You may follow Bausum on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AnnBausum) and Twitter (@AnnBausum) or visit her online at www.AnnBausum.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
April 13, 2018
I had never heard of Stubby's exploits during the First World War, so I thought it was an amusingly cute little story. It has all the makings of a Capra film starring either Jimmy Stewart or Gary Cooper (and if ever a story was in need of Hollywood invention it is this one). It was as though Bob Conroy, Stubby's owner, lived quietly in the background and allowed his dog to accept credit for his own accomplishments, while all the time orchestrating a publicity campaign worthy of PT Barnum. It got to the point where, even after the war, wherever Stubby went, people wanted to shake his paw (and if he got weary of that, he did not let on). Of course, many of those people were probably in it for the reflected publicity such encounters offered (which is how Stubby got to meet General Pershing and every sitting president during his lifetime).
The only problem is that the details I was interested in were rather sparse. For instance, I can only speculate as to why Conroy abruptly left his first wife. Even though he did not seem to consider marriage until after Stubby had "gone West" (as Doughboys said of their departed comrades), I can imagine that his life with his new bride paled in comparison to his adventures with Stubby. (I was reminded of a scene in the film Slaughterhouse 5, in which Billy Pilgrim clearly prefers his dog to his wife). I imagine that was common to men returning from war.
Even though the book is intended for adults (because the author tells how she wrote a children's version first), the first half reads a little bit like a high school text book. The reader is given a very basic overview of the events that led to America's involvement in the war (The Lusitania, The Zimmerman Telegram etc.). I guess that's necessary because most people really don't know anything about what happened before 1980, much less the details of a war that happened 100 years ago.
One thing I did learn though was that the Pet Cemetery we always drive past in Hartsdale, NY is the oldest pet cemetery in America, and contains, among other things, a memorial to World War I animals (though not Stubby because he is at the Smithsonian). Next time I am up there, I will have to check it out.
***Update April 13, 2018 - I guess someone was listening because there is now an animated independent feature film based on the story.
The only problem is that the details I was interested in were rather sparse. For instance, I can only speculate as to why Conroy abruptly left his first wife. Even though he did not seem to consider marriage until after Stubby had "gone West" (as Doughboys said of their departed comrades), I can imagine that his life with his new bride paled in comparison to his adventures with Stubby. (I was reminded of a scene in the film Slaughterhouse 5, in which Billy Pilgrim clearly prefers his dog to his wife). I imagine that was common to men returning from war.
Even though the book is intended for adults (because the author tells how she wrote a children's version first), the first half reads a little bit like a high school text book. The reader is given a very basic overview of the events that led to America's involvement in the war (The Lusitania, The Zimmerman Telegram etc.). I guess that's necessary because most people really don't know anything about what happened before 1980, much less the details of a war that happened 100 years ago.
One thing I did learn though was that the Pet Cemetery we always drive past in Hartsdale, NY is the oldest pet cemetery in America, and contains, among other things, a memorial to World War I animals (though not Stubby because he is at the Smithsonian). Next time I am up there, I will have to check it out.
***Update April 13, 2018 - I guess someone was listening because there is now an animated independent feature film based on the story.
May 5, 2014
Advanced reading copy review
The story of "Sergeant" Stubby and his human companion Robert Conroy is a good read and adds a new dimension to the collective history of WWI. Many animals were put to work during the war, a few became famous but only two are preserved in the Smithsonian Museum of American History (the other is the carrier pigeon Cher Ami). The big drawback to this book is the lack of personal papers (letters, journals, etc)from Mr. Conroy. He did keep a scrapbook of Stubby's press clippings, but little else remains. This means that much of the story is basic background filler on WWI. If you've ever read any in-depth books on that subject, much of Sergeant Stubby will seem like a grade school refresher. However, the tales of Stubby and his exploits on and off the battlefields of Europe make up for this shortcoming. You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book, but it helps.
The story of "Sergeant" Stubby and his human companion Robert Conroy is a good read and adds a new dimension to the collective history of WWI. Many animals were put to work during the war, a few became famous but only two are preserved in the Smithsonian Museum of American History (the other is the carrier pigeon Cher Ami). The big drawback to this book is the lack of personal papers (letters, journals, etc)from Mr. Conroy. He did keep a scrapbook of Stubby's press clippings, but little else remains. This means that much of the story is basic background filler on WWI. If you've ever read any in-depth books on that subject, much of Sergeant Stubby will seem like a grade school refresher. However, the tales of Stubby and his exploits on and off the battlefields of Europe make up for this shortcoming. You don't have to be a dog lover to enjoy this book, but it helps.
April 22, 2018
What a remarkable story and amazing dog. My journey with Sergeant Stubby began some years ago at the Smithsonian Museum of History. My daughter and I traveled to Washington D.C. to lay to rest a good friend of mine at Arlington National Cemetery. While there we visited the History Museum and I come upon this WW1 war scene of a soldier in a gas mask advancing in the trenches. In the scene was this dog that looked like a regular mutt, not what you would think of as a war dog. There was something about that dog that held me transfixed and in awe. Being a dog lover, that scene at the museum has alway stuck with me. Recently after reading a book on military working dogs throughout history, I saw a picture of a dog that I had a haunting feeling I had seen before. After a little research I came upon this book and discovered Stubby was the dog I had seen in the Smithsonian. I must have sensed he was special. He was a true War Dog and faithfully served his friend and unit. He also survived all that carnage and lived a long life which was truly amazing.
December 31, 2024
What a sweet story of a brave dog (and a war hero)!
February 18, 2020
A Review of the Audiobook
Published in 2014 by Blackstone Audio.
Read by Pam Ward.
Duration: 5 hours, 12 minutes.
Unabridged.
During the quick basic training for American forces heading for France in World War I, a stray dog found its way into a Connecticut National Guard training camp at Yale University. The unit was sprawled all over the campus and this Boston Terrier mix wandered around making friends all over. His friendly nature guaranteed a lot of table scraps. He marched with the men, learned the commands and blended in as well as a dog can. Somewhere along the way, someone taught him how to salute and hold the salute until it was returned.
When it came time to board a ship and head to France, the soldier that he spent the most time with, Corporal James Robert Conroy, hid him under his coat as others provided a distraction. Once aboard, Stubby ensured he got to stay with his friends by saluting any superior officer that questioned his presence and all resistance melted away.
Stubby stayed with his friends in France. He served several months in the trenches, participated in 17 battles, was wounded by a German hand grenade, was wounded by German poison gas, helped locate wounded soldiers in the "no man's land" between the trenches, single-handedly captured a German spy (he grabbed his pants with his mouth and made a ruckus until human soldiers came) and won admirers everywhere he went.
The title of this book...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
Published in 2014 by Blackstone Audio.
Read by Pam Ward.
Duration: 5 hours, 12 minutes.
Unabridged.
During the quick basic training for American forces heading for France in World War I, a stray dog found its way into a Connecticut National Guard training camp at Yale University. The unit was sprawled all over the campus and this Boston Terrier mix wandered around making friends all over. His friendly nature guaranteed a lot of table scraps. He marched with the men, learned the commands and blended in as well as a dog can. Somewhere along the way, someone taught him how to salute and hold the salute until it was returned.
When it came time to board a ship and head to France, the soldier that he spent the most time with, Corporal James Robert Conroy, hid him under his coat as others provided a distraction. Once aboard, Stubby ensured he got to stay with his friends by saluting any superior officer that questioned his presence and all resistance melted away.
Stubby stayed with his friends in France. He served several months in the trenches, participated in 17 battles, was wounded by a German hand grenade, was wounded by German poison gas, helped locate wounded soldiers in the "no man's land" between the trenches, single-handedly captured a German spy (he grabbed his pants with his mouth and made a ruckus until human soldiers came) and won admirers everywhere he went.
The title of this book...
Read more at: https://dwdsreviews.blogspot.com/2020...
August 11, 2019
Touching biography of a World War I doughboy and the Boston terrier he adopted during training. Stubby accompanied Corporal Robert Conroy and his unit to the trenches of France through the end of the war. The author tells their stories with a balance of personal detail and larger perspective to provide context. Great read for those interested in WWI and dogs. [Thanks, Clare!]
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2021
Very good book! Loved the story and the details of the war and the time in our country's history. There were tons of news stories on this dog, but Stubby's companion didn't keep a diary and there was not too much correspondence left with the day to day details of their life together in that time. The author did a great job filling that gap by talking about the average life of the doughboys and the history of the unit. It all added up to a well rounded story around a great dog so I would recommend it.
March 20, 2019
What a great "feel-good" book. So glad that Stubby's story has been found and that people will know of him once again. This is our History Book Club pick for March and it's a good introduction to WWI and of course, Stubby.
June 12, 2020
Captivating look at WWI entwined in the lovely story of two heroes, the best of friends, who had six legs between then — a grownup boy and his dog. I’ve seldom found a biography that recounted the depths of the hardships in war, it’s aftermath, with love as its theme. An excellent narration by Pam Ward and a foreword by Grover Gardner (always a favorite).
If you love dogs, like history, and honor our soldiers - this IS your read. It is also a nice way to let school age children learn the history of WWI.
If you love dogs, like history, and honor our soldiers - this IS your read. It is also a nice way to let school age children learn the history of WWI.
January 29, 2014
Author Bausum gives a very readable but somewhat labored and at times necessarily speculative account of her subjects' lives. The paucity of direct information about owner "Bob" Conroy's wartime experiences and thus those of his dog "Stubby" mean that there is a lot of general World War I filler. That's to be expected, given the man left no letters or memoirs behind, but the filler is a bit watery; more substantial material is wanted to bind the wartime experience into an overall context. The horror of the fighting and of the conditions he and his dog experienced in the trenches is not adequately conveyed I think. Although his grandson reports that he led an active social life as an elderly gentleman in Palm Beach, Conroy does come across much of the time as a loner, living for or through his dog, and seemingly damaged in a fundamental way by his wartime experiences in the 26th or "Yankee" Division of the A.E.F. One does wonder how many other men of his generation were so affected but there's not context.
A mildly interesting tale but not really enough to satisfy about wartime service, or use of dogs in the war (although there is a bit about rescue dogs).
There is an 80 page children's book "Stubby the War Dog" by Bausum also published by National Geographic.
A mildly interesting tale but not really enough to satisfy about wartime service, or use of dogs in the war (although there is a bit about rescue dogs).
There is an 80 page children's book "Stubby the War Dog" by Bausum also published by National Geographic.
May 20, 2015
I love a good dog story. I enjoyed Sergeant Stubby's story and the story of his soldier owner. Animals are great companions, especially dogs.
This was a short book. The author used private letters and newspaper clippings but it felt like the author was hard pressed to fill its pages. Admittedly, the author states that there wasn't much info out there regarding this little dog. So there seemed to be a lot in here that didn't have any thing to do with the pup or his soldier. The extra war info felt slapped in to extend the reading experience.
It sounded like this little pooch was special and received a heroes welcome. I wish this book showed more of that.
This was a short book. The author used private letters and newspaper clippings but it felt like the author was hard pressed to fill its pages. Admittedly, the author states that there wasn't much info out there regarding this little dog. So there seemed to be a lot in here that didn't have any thing to do with the pup or his soldier. The extra war info felt slapped in to extend the reading experience.
It sounded like this little pooch was special and received a heroes welcome. I wish this book showed more of that.
September 26, 2014
Read in conjunction with the 100 yr anniversary of WW1 for our book club. I have to say I was rather disappointed in the book. The author tried, but so much about the life of Stubby and his master Robert Conroy was not recorded. The book contains much conjecture which should not occur in a work of non fiction. Nice pictures but no maps. Some of the battles mentioned should have maps and more info on those battles was needed.
April 15, 2022
After listening to a handful of books mentioning noteworthy military service animals during numerous wars, I got the hankering for a “deep dive” on one of the many topics I have come across. I figured a quick diversion from some of the “rougher” war books I’ve been reading would be a good idea, considering how bleak some WWI books I’ve read have been. Readers may have noticed a pattern with this including my forays into The USNI’s Cats in the Navy and Four-Fisted Tales, both of which were quite enjoyable, and great palate cleansers.
I think I first heard about the topic of today’s review from the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast, which devoted an entire episode to notable military animals throughout history. The standout segment was on Sergeant Stubby, perhaps the most famous of all dogs in the US military, who became quite the canine celebrity in his time. Sergeant Stubby – How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation by Ann Bausum appears to be the benchmark book on his life and legend, and was a must read for me. I’m not going to lie, I had to look up how Stubby’s life went post-war to ensure I wasn’t in for a Marley & Me situation, and am happy to report that nothing terrible goes down.
“Meet Sergeant Stubby: World War I dog veteran, decorated war hero, American icon, and above all, man’s best friend. Stubby’s story begins in 1917 when America is about to enter the war. A stowaway dog befriends Private James Robert “Bob” Conroy at the Connecticut National Guard camp at Yale University and the two become inseparable. Stubby also wins over the commanding officer and is soon made an official member of the 102nd Infantry of the 26th division. What follows is an epic tale of how man’s best friend becomes an invaluable soldier on the front lines and in the trenches, a decorated war hero and an inspiration to a country long after the troops returned home.”
Whether Stubby’s owner, a soldier named James Conroy, embellished his life and deeds or not, one cannot deny how much stubby meant to the soldiers he fought alongside. Named the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, Stubby and Conroy were assigned to the 26th Yankee Division for nearly two years in World War I. Stubby had his ups and downs in the trenches, bringing cheer to everyone around him and suffering two combat injuries. This and his presence in many battles during the war resulted in Stubby becoming quite the decorated pooch, even collecting a captured German Iron Cross medal after single handedly capturing a wayward German POW. Some humorless people were very angry that Stubby was honored the way he was, but it’s all for fun and people should have lightened up.
My favorite section of the book is a spot where the author details the way Stubby’s story mutated in the media. It appears that he suffered a shrapnel wound and possible gassing during the war, but many newspapers wanted to “spice” things up a bit. Suddenly it was reported that Stubby patriotically took anywhere from two to five bullets protecting his comrades. Some papers created elaborate backstories involving a past-life as a show-dog despite his true nature as some kind of mutt. That’s assuming the papers even got minor details like his name, age, gender or breed correct! I assume Ann Bausum had a hell of a time parsing out truth from fantasy in her research for this book!
I’m not even a “dog guy” and I found this book to be a fun and endearing tale of heroism in the face of incredible odds. It’s as light-hearted as a war book can get, without it completely downplaying the seriousness of the situation, and has a tinge of humor that was well appreciated. While some of Stubby’s life may have been a bit of a tall-tale, it’s still a great story and the perfect sort of war book for anyone that loves pets. I understand that an animated film was made recently based on this story, and I may end up having to watch that at some point, because this book has made me love the little guy, no matter how far gone he is now.
https://arcadiapod.com/2022/04/15/rev...
I think I first heard about the topic of today’s review from the Lions Led By Donkeys podcast, which devoted an entire episode to notable military animals throughout history. The standout segment was on Sergeant Stubby, perhaps the most famous of all dogs in the US military, who became quite the canine celebrity in his time. Sergeant Stubby – How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation by Ann Bausum appears to be the benchmark book on his life and legend, and was a must read for me. I’m not going to lie, I had to look up how Stubby’s life went post-war to ensure I wasn’t in for a Marley & Me situation, and am happy to report that nothing terrible goes down.
“Meet Sergeant Stubby: World War I dog veteran, decorated war hero, American icon, and above all, man’s best friend. Stubby’s story begins in 1917 when America is about to enter the war. A stowaway dog befriends Private James Robert “Bob” Conroy at the Connecticut National Guard camp at Yale University and the two become inseparable. Stubby also wins over the commanding officer and is soon made an official member of the 102nd Infantry of the 26th division. What follows is an epic tale of how man’s best friend becomes an invaluable soldier on the front lines and in the trenches, a decorated war hero and an inspiration to a country long after the troops returned home.”
Whether Stubby’s owner, a soldier named James Conroy, embellished his life and deeds or not, one cannot deny how much stubby meant to the soldiers he fought alongside. Named the unofficial mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment, Stubby and Conroy were assigned to the 26th Yankee Division for nearly two years in World War I. Stubby had his ups and downs in the trenches, bringing cheer to everyone around him and suffering two combat injuries. This and his presence in many battles during the war resulted in Stubby becoming quite the decorated pooch, even collecting a captured German Iron Cross medal after single handedly capturing a wayward German POW. Some humorless people were very angry that Stubby was honored the way he was, but it’s all for fun and people should have lightened up.
My favorite section of the book is a spot where the author details the way Stubby’s story mutated in the media. It appears that he suffered a shrapnel wound and possible gassing during the war, but many newspapers wanted to “spice” things up a bit. Suddenly it was reported that Stubby patriotically took anywhere from two to five bullets protecting his comrades. Some papers created elaborate backstories involving a past-life as a show-dog despite his true nature as some kind of mutt. That’s assuming the papers even got minor details like his name, age, gender or breed correct! I assume Ann Bausum had a hell of a time parsing out truth from fantasy in her research for this book!
I’m not even a “dog guy” and I found this book to be a fun and endearing tale of heroism in the face of incredible odds. It’s as light-hearted as a war book can get, without it completely downplaying the seriousness of the situation, and has a tinge of humor that was well appreciated. While some of Stubby’s life may have been a bit of a tall-tale, it’s still a great story and the perfect sort of war book for anyone that loves pets. I understand that an animated film was made recently based on this story, and I may end up having to watch that at some point, because this book has made me love the little guy, no matter how far gone he is now.
https://arcadiapod.com/2022/04/15/rev...
August 3, 2017
I expected to read about the activities and life of a heroic and lovable dog during World War I, but found that more of the emphasis is on the course of the war for the 102nd Infantry Regiment of the Yankee Division in a much more general sense, with some discussion of what this may have meant for J. Robert Conroy and Stubby. This is an honest book, and apparently there is little actual documentation of Stubby's and Conroy's experiences of the war, so there is quite a bit of "we don't know what Stubby did" and "stories of Stubby's adventures were exaggerated with retellings..." There were a few passages where I could not muster the concentration to follow and remember the battles. The third part of the book, which covers Stubby's and Conroy's lives and deaths after the war is more engaging. Oddly, I found the Afterword and the Research Notes and Acknowledgments describing how the information about Stubby came to light, and analysis of how the military's relationship with animals - especially dogs - has evolved since Stubby, to be the most interesting. I wished for more photographs, larger, and of better quality, and I would have liked the Appendix with the photo and list of medals on Stubby's jacket to be on facing pages for easier reference. And, if this short paragraph had been anywhere earlier than the last page, I would not have finished reading the book: "Six decades elapsed after Stubby's death, and yet Conroy never again owned another dog. Two wives, yes. But only one dog." !!!!
November 1, 2017
First off, 100 stars for Stubby the dog!
I really enjoyed this book. I had heard of Stubby, but never read anything about him. This book brought Stubby and his best fund, Bob Conroy, to life. I read the author's research notes, and it sounded like she worked really hard to put all this together; it wasn't like she could just go online and find everything she needed. I have read quite a bit about WWII, but not a whole lot about WWI, so this time period was interesting. Some parts made me think, such as how the people who lived through WWI thought it would never be forgotten; now, it is such a distant memory and has been eclipsed by more recent events.
I loved the glimpses into Stubby's personality, such as when he saluted fellow soldiers and those higher in the chain of command. The author also pointed out some of the legends about Stubby that are probably just that - legends, as opposed to facts.
One thing I really got a kick out of was a picture of Stubby marching in a parade with the soldiers. If you look at the bystanders, 95% of their faces are turned towards Stubby, even after he passed by. Stubby definitely outshone the rest of the marchers! It told a lot about the impact Stubby had on not only his fellow veterans, but on the general public as well. Hurray to Bob Conroy for making sure that his legacy lived on!
I really enjoyed this book. I had heard of Stubby, but never read anything about him. This book brought Stubby and his best fund, Bob Conroy, to life. I read the author's research notes, and it sounded like she worked really hard to put all this together; it wasn't like she could just go online and find everything she needed. I have read quite a bit about WWII, but not a whole lot about WWI, so this time period was interesting. Some parts made me think, such as how the people who lived through WWI thought it would never be forgotten; now, it is such a distant memory and has been eclipsed by more recent events.
I loved the glimpses into Stubby's personality, such as when he saluted fellow soldiers and those higher in the chain of command. The author also pointed out some of the legends about Stubby that are probably just that - legends, as opposed to facts.
One thing I really got a kick out of was a picture of Stubby marching in a parade with the soldiers. If you look at the bystanders, 95% of their faces are turned towards Stubby, even after he passed by. Stubby definitely outshone the rest of the marchers! It told a lot about the impact Stubby had on not only his fellow veterans, but on the general public as well. Hurray to Bob Conroy for making sure that his legacy lived on!
May 2, 2020
At the outset of World War I for the United States, a stray dog wondered into a training camp of the Connecticut National Guard at Yale University in New Haven Connecticut. Within just a few months the Company was deployed to France and the little dog was secretly taken along with the soldiers. Over the next year, "Stubby" would save lives, find wounded soldiers on battle fields, warn of gas attacks, suffer shrapnel wounds and take prisoners. The absolutely true story of the mascot of the 102 102 Infantry Regiment of the Connecticut National Guard is amazing.
An Bausum's book is very easy to read and full of fun stories and details of the life of Stubby. But Bausum doesn't neglect the bigger picture. It is worth noting that there is relatively little documentation of Stubby's actual experience. Bausum draws from newspaper accounts and conjecture. The bulk of the book is the story of the 102 Infantry which is well documented. In many ways, Bausum uses Stubby as a hook to tell the larger story of the First World War. Nevertheless, it is a solid account and gives a strong impression of what the war was like for the men who fought it. Stubby is a wonderful main character to follow and in the end, the true hero of the tail - though his was docked!
Quick read, by no means a comprehensive history of the war, but a unique dog's eye view of the action. Well worth a read!
An Bausum's book is very easy to read and full of fun stories and details of the life of Stubby. But Bausum doesn't neglect the bigger picture. It is worth noting that there is relatively little documentation of Stubby's actual experience. Bausum draws from newspaper accounts and conjecture. The bulk of the book is the story of the 102 Infantry which is well documented. In many ways, Bausum uses Stubby as a hook to tell the larger story of the First World War. Nevertheless, it is a solid account and gives a strong impression of what the war was like for the men who fought it. Stubby is a wonderful main character to follow and in the end, the true hero of the tail - though his was docked!
Quick read, by no means a comprehensive history of the war, but a unique dog's eye view of the action. Well worth a read!
December 31, 2024
A cute, little book, much like Stubby - it's apparent throughout the pages that Stubby is what got his soldier through the war, which was heartwarming and made me misty-eyed a few times. Although it's cute, well-researched, and told in an approachable, conversational tone, there's a lot of conjecture here. This helps fill in the gaps and makes this a semi-fictional nonfiction account of Stubby's life, or what it may have been like, which may not be to the taste of some readers. I think the approach the author took is the best one for the subject at hand, but the style did lend to filler, which slowed down my consumption of the book. Nicely done appendices. It was fascinating to see how much research and work went into tracking Stubby's story down - and an act of foresight of Stubby's human to preserve so much that would have been lost to history. I'd be curious to see what the children's version of this book for National Geographic Kids is like, as well as the short film they produced. 3/5 for enjoyment, 2/5 for literary merit.
September 1, 2019
A more detailed version than the kid's book but confirming this dog was a blessing to so many people in so many ways. Angel in disguise? Can angels be animals?
Talks about the myths and the facts and show this dog was unbelievably helpful, comforting, amiable, tough, etc. A great book to read that will make you wish this dog was yours and brings you closer to the dog and the relationship between him and his owner.
I would rather not to have to choose between this book and the children's book by the same author because both are so good and I love the pics.
As to the movie, Sgt. Stubby, it's about an hour long, worth watching, a great addition to the legacy of Stubby along with the books. Now I want to go out and adopt another dog.
Very much worth reading if you don't know much about WWI, if you like dogs, if you're interested in the role of animals in human society.
Talks about the myths and the facts and show this dog was unbelievably helpful, comforting, amiable, tough, etc. A great book to read that will make you wish this dog was yours and brings you closer to the dog and the relationship between him and his owner.
I would rather not to have to choose between this book and the children's book by the same author because both are so good and I love the pics.
As to the movie, Sgt. Stubby, it's about an hour long, worth watching, a great addition to the legacy of Stubby along with the books. Now I want to go out and adopt another dog.
Very much worth reading if you don't know much about WWI, if you like dogs, if you're interested in the role of animals in human society.
July 5, 2020
I love dogs, I love books, and I love military history, but this is a book that muddles everything together to a point where I asked myself, "Who is this book for?" It does a bad job of conveying Stubby's story, it does an adequate job of the history of WW I, but that's not what most readers are coming for, and it's just poorly written. Because so little is known about Stubby and Conroy (his owner), we are constantly given information such as this: As the unit moved out, no doubt Stubby and Conroy were marching along with them. That's a recurring example of what you'll read. When you really break it down, there's so little about Stubby and Conroy that you would probably be better off just reading the Wikipedia entry.
Here, I'll save you a few hours: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergean...
Here, I'll save you a few hours: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergean...
April 1, 2022
This was a really great book because of the thriller and how suprising it was. It all starts as this stray dog that goes on a ship with his best human friend and a lot of other soilders. Over the way he makes lots of friends on the ship and cheering up other soilders. When their ship docked they got into many battles and the dog was a medic dog trying to get medics to come to fallen soilders. But during one of the battles stubby gets hit by a sharpnel and some how makes it out alive. I really think though that stubby has been a dynamic charcter adapting to the war. And his best human friend is static in the story just focused on stubby and making it out alive. Lastly, the reason why I rated it 4/5 stars was becuase It had good dialouge and a little emotional. Overall this has been a very good book.
January 3, 2026
A great read about a forgotten war hero, who wore the Iron Cross obtained in combat where it would tell onlookers the most. Reminds us that dogs are better than humans and we genuinely do not deserve them, whether they are just playing ball with children or capturing enemy drivers in a combat zone. My only quibble with this book is that the author spent so much time on the Second Battle of the Marne and the Meuse-Argonne campaign that sometimes Stubby got lost for a while...but she always circled back to the heroes of the story, Stubby and his human, Bob Conroy, who loved his dog so much that he managed to get him installed as part of the Great War display at the Smithsonian, next to Cher Ami. Well worth your time, whether your are interested in biography, animal stories or the Great War.
July 16, 2020
While I love hearing as much about Stubby as I can, it seems that not a ton on information was available. The first half of the book was more focused on the war itself, not as much Stubby's role. While it didn't hurt to learn about WWI, it almost seems that this story would have been more concise and focused on Stubby as a short story (I'm curious to see the children's book). Despite the lack of information and the assumptions the author had to make, it was still a joy to learn about Stubby's life and impact on the Yankee Division. Conroy's insistence that the world know about Stubby shows just how meaningful this little dog's life was, before there was much acceptance about how much impact dogs can have on the human soul.
March 25, 2018
Quick read outlining the life (or probable life) of a famous little dog from WWI, although it sounds like he was more famous for his owner's post-war media blitz than anything he actually did during the war. Indeed, in spite of all the medals, it seems his main duty in the trenches was companionship, which he carried out extremely well.
Because of the lack of primary source documents from his owner (letters, etc.), a lot of the first part of the book was general WWI history with some speculation on what Stubby might have done. That part was a bit tedious (for me) to get through, but it wasn't a bad look at the life of a WWI soldier. Just not exactly what I was expecting.
Because of the lack of primary source documents from his owner (letters, etc.), a lot of the first part of the book was general WWI history with some speculation on what Stubby might have done. That part was a bit tedious (for me) to get through, but it wasn't a bad look at the life of a WWI soldier. Just not exactly what I was expecting.
December 2, 2024
Incredibly researched book about a dog, the war and the bonds between animals and soldiers that can impact so many lives. Much of the book does focus on the war vs on Stubby as the writer admits there isn’t too much available on what Stubby does during particular moments but I didn’t find this a problem. To me the war writing was impeccably detailed and insightful. Any information given about Stubby was a fun glimpse into the life of a canine hero that remains much an enigma today but still respected for his bravery and as the book shows, commitment and love towards his human companions. Narration was great and I’d recommend this to anyone who appreciates war history and animal heroes.
November 28, 2017
I listened to the audio version narrated by Pam Ward, who did a fine job.
I liked this book. It was a good mix of WWI history and fun facts about a famous war dog. War history tends to bore me, but Ann Bausum managed to make learning about WWI interesting. I think the key for me was that just when I was starting to get a little bored with the military history part, the topic would shift to Stubby.
I liked this book. It was a good mix of WWI history and fun facts about a famous war dog. War history tends to bore me, but Ann Bausum managed to make learning about WWI interesting. I think the key for me was that just when I was starting to get a little bored with the military history part, the topic would shift to Stubby.
May 13, 2018
This is a great book for a high school student learning about WWI. This is a terrible book for an adult who wants some good historical nonfiction. I fell asleep twice with this book--which is rare for me. For a historical nonfiction book, the author employs a lot of "perhaps" and "may have"s. I've heard the children's book is a lot better, but that is probably because the audience is more appropriate for the subject matter.
October 31, 2018
This book was a very lightweight treatment of the Stubby narrative, and while valuable, fails to really pack the punch that the introduction promised to provide. The book’s narrative style ends up being rather cute but forgettable, which is sad, because the story material itself is very worthy of remembrance and cherishing. This book is the author’s first “adult” book, so her bio on the back flap claims, so perhaps she can be forgiven for writing in a very basic and inch deep narrative.
March 4, 2019
A good introduction to the American experience in WWI with a lovable star. Due to the scarcity of surviving factual records of either Stubby or his human the author chose to fill in the blanks by recounting the sweeping events of the war that they must have been caught up in.
Bausum usually take pains to draw the line between fact and mythos. She does dabble in speculation sometimes, but usually admits as much openly.
Bausum usually take pains to draw the line between fact and mythos. She does dabble in speculation sometimes, but usually admits as much openly.
March 18, 2019
I had never heard of Stubby, but he was clearly well known during and after WWI. This is our History Book Club choice for March at the Library. He and the relationship he had with his soldier owner is really sweet. For those of us who think of our pets as members of the family, this is a wonderful story. The author is better known for her young adult books and she writes this in a very simple style and does a lot of "supposing" due to lack of information, but I enjoyed the read.
April 23, 2019
I am a huge fan of Sergeant Stubby so I was thrilled when our local library received this. While I was hoping to read a dog story, there was also a lot of unrelated history in this and history is not my thing. That is the only reason I docked it one star. The author writes very well and I have to commend the extensive research she has done on this little hero. All in all, I would recommend this, just be prepared for more than just a wonderful dog story.
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