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LETTER 05

WHY NOT SEND AN ARMY OF BULL PUPS NEXT TIME?

Richard Richardson to The Stars and Stripes

August 1921

Born in 1916, Stubby the bull terrier was the official mascot of the 102nd Infantry Regiment and famously served on the Western Front for almost two years, during which time he stood guard for his human companions and even, on one occasion, held down a German soldier until back-up arrived. Stubby remains the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. But despite his heroics, not everyone admired this dog. The following letter, written by an amusingly bitter war veteran, was sent to, and reprinted in, the Stars and Stripes military newspaper.

THE LETTERS

Editor, The Stars and Stripes:

I see a big write-up in one of the newspapers of a dog that has received many honors and medals for his World War record. It doesn’t strike me just right, and I’m writing this for publication just to show what one ex-soldier thinks of such a thing.

It is natural for a dog to follow his master, anybody knows that. Stubby followed his master to the front willingly no doubt. But did the dog have any idea at all where he was following his master to. No; and I’ll say if he had he would have whipped his master and the whole company to keep from going.

But Stubby followed his master through the engagements some will say. Of course, he did, but what else could he have done? He was sneaking around with his tail tucked and wanting to run, but not knowing which way to run. He stuck with his master expecting him to see him through. For this Stubby gets all those medals and the name “a real hero.”

But the thousands of real heroes, the red-blooded American boys who left gallons of their blood and maybe an arm and a leg on the battlefields don’t get these honors bestowed on them. They didn’t do anything to receive a medal or the name “a real hero.” But a dog did.

If this Boston bull did so much and the boys didn’t do anything, why not send an army of bull pups the next time and see who is entitled to these honors? I think the whole thing is nothing but a disgrace to the U. S. Army. I feel that I am insulted, and if every other American service man doesn’t feel the same way about it I’d like to know what kind of tastes they have.

Maybe there is one or two in the world (there ought to be more than that) who think I haven’t given the dog a square deal and that I don’t look at the thing in the right way. If there is I would appreciate a letter showing me where I am wrong.

RICHARD L. RICHARDSON

Box 239, San Angelo, Tex.