Research is not a particularly linear process. Other people had tried to trace him, I was told, but with no luck. The museum had lost track of Conroy after he'd donated Stubby and his belongings to the museum in 1956, and they'd barely learned anything about him even then.

When I began researching Stubby's history at the Smithsonian, where he resides, I asked museum curators what they could tell me about Conroy, the soldier who became Stubby's best friend during World War I and beyond. My favorite surprise by far was the discovery of J. Stubby can be seen today at the ''Price of Freedom'' exhibit in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Every research journey has its surprises-I learn new facts every day-but with Stubby I enjoyed a wealth of wonderful discoveries, and each one made the solving of that jigsaw puzzle that much more fun. Slowly I uncover the facts, and the full picture comes into view. Or, sometimes, each project feels like a jigsaw puzzle, except without a known picture. Each project is like a mystery, and I have the fun of solving it. One of the best parts about researching a book is that I don't know what I'm going to find. Conroy's own grandson Curtis Deane writes a foreword with memories of a childhood shaped by the legacy of his grandfather's faithful dog. Suspenseful and heart-stopping, Stubby the War Dog is a from-the-trenches account of World War I, just in time for the centennial, and shows the hardships faced by ordinary soldiers-including poison gas, tanks, enemy spies, machine-gun fire, disease, rats, and harsh weather.Īward-winning author Ann Bausum sifts through fact and fable to reveal the true story of Stubby, the war dog, and his inseparable companion, soldier J. Stubby's charm works its magic on modern audiences, who can't help but fall for his good humor and bravery. The friendship that crossed battlefields, oceans, and even species now transcends history. In the course of his remarkable life Stubby served on 17 battlefronts, suffered wounds from crossfire, became a national celebrity, met three Presidents, and found a best friend in American soldier J. With a furry coat and four legs, Stubby the dog did not look like the other soldiers, but he took his duty just as seriously.Īdopted as the mascot of a regiment of World War I soldiers, Stubby became their comrade-in-arms. The smallest member of the force raised his right paw. When a commanding officer addressed a member of the 102nd Infantry, the soldier snapped to attention, raising his right hand in salute.

Stubby the war dog by ann bausum