Sergeant Stubby wearing military uniform and decorations. While training for combat on the fields of Yale University in 1917, Private J. Robert Conroy found a brindle puppy with a short tail. He named him Stubby, and soon the dog became the mascot of the 102nd Infantry, 26th Yankee Division. When they headed for the front lines in France, Stubby was given special orders allowing him to accompany the Division to the front lines as their official mascot. Sergeant Stubby (1916 or 1917 - April 4, 1926), was the most decorated war dog of WWI and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. America's first war dog, Stubby served for 18 months and participated in seventeen battles on the Western Front. He saved his regiment from surprise mustard gas attacks, found and comforted the wounded, and even once caught a German spy by the seat of his pants, holding him there until American soldiers found him. Back home his exploits were front page news of every major newspaper and he was awarded many medals for his heroism, including a medal from the Humane Society presented by General John Pershing. He met Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, and Warren G. Harding. In 1921, he attended Georgetown University Law Center with Conroy, and became the Georgetown Hoyas' team mascot. He died in 1926.