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Tracking History: Jonathan Knott, Host
Dog Heroics: Sgt. Stubby in WWI and on Film Now
There has been a movement of late to clear the unjustifiably tarnished reputation of "Bully" dog breeds (which include the multiple types of bulldogs, boxers, bull terriers and many others that are broadly labeled "pit" bulls, who are not an actual breed). These wonderful dogs are often abused, euthanized, passed over at rescue shelters, and treated as pariahs due to a reputation they do not deserve. At the same time, World War I, the most fascinating war America was ever involved in, in my opinion - one largely forgotten by our populace for decades - is now enjoying renewed interest. These two subjects come together perfectly in the recent animated film Sgt. Stubby: an American Hero.
Based on the true story of a bully-esque mutt who made his way onto the Yale campus where American soldiers were drilling in 1917, befriended a soldier named J. Robert Conroy, got smuggled to Europe, charmed his way to becoming the regiment's official mascot (by learning how to sit on his hind legs and salute, holding his position until the salute was returned) and, through his subsequent heroics, who became the most decorated canine in American military history, the movie is a delightful learning experience for people of all ages.
Americans were late to the war and poorly trained in many areas, including the use of dogs. Germans, French and British all used high-bred, specially-trained dogs extensively for numerous purposes, from identifying corpses to carrying messages, and in one instance, even using sled dogs to carry equipment in snowy areas where vehicles couldn't go. America had no such program, and thus the plucky little mutt called Stubby (who quickly rose to the rank of sergeant), by using his own courage and ingenuity, became a symbol and captured the imagination of the nation.
That isn't hyperbole; for about ten years after the war, he was the most popular animal in the country. He formally met three sitting Presidents, became the mascot of the Georgetown Hoyas football team (where his master studied law, and where, to this day, they still have bulldogs on their helmets), went to work with Conroy at what would later become the FBI, and even performed in vaudeville for a while, earning twice the salary of the average American. When he finally died, Stubby's body, prepared by a taxidermist, went on display at the Smithsonian.
There are a number of books and articles that focus on his later life, but the film focuses on the beginning and the war only. I recommend Ann Bausum's book Sergeant Stubby: How a Stray Dog and His Best Friend Helped Win World War I and Stole the Heart of a Nation as a companion guide for this film.
Sgt. Stubby: an American Hero, an animated/CGI film produced by newcomer Fun Academy Motion Pictures, is one of the rare films that appeals to children, dog lovers, and military historians in equal measures. The studio partnered with rescue shelters around the country as part of the promotional campaign, which unfortunately wasn't as successful as it should have been. They spent all their money on the making of the film, and promotion/marketing was thus almost entirely carried out through social media, word of mouth, and scholastic events.
Despite being a wonderful film with some well-known actors doing voice-overs (Helena Bonham-Carter, Gerard Depardieu) and a gorgeous, moving soundtrack by award winning composer Patrick Doyle, it came nowhere close to making its budget back. Hopefully it will do better overseas and through DVD sales; this is the very kind of film that NEEDS to be made, especially in our current social and political climate.
We are so used to our military being described as enormous, well-trained and equipped, and ready at a moment's notice to go into action anywhere in the world, that it is easy to forget it was not always so. World War I was a prime example: America entered the war in nearly the final hour with a terribly inexperienced military and relatively poor training. Stubby was a perfect mascot; unpedigreed, untrained, an underdog. It is largely a forgotten war on its own, being overshadowed by subsequently larger and higher tech wars that were much more extensively filmed. The sparse, jerky, black and white footage remaining from WWI seems from another time and place entirely, which to an extent, it was.
It was the first and only war of its kind, a 19th century war fought with 20th century weapons. There were horses and mules alongside of tanks and trucks, mounted cavalry charging the deadly new machine gun, the first and last sanctioned use of chemical warfare. Newfangled telephone wires that had to be strung by hand were almost always rendered useless for communication, and thus they kept dogs and carrier pigeons on hand to carry messages. Horrible new weapons inflicted wounds that medical science and psychology were not ready for. The war was unique and tragic.
And yet, there was still a large element of humanity and chivalry present from the past, and this was the last war in which such behavior was evident on a large scale. For example, there was Christmas of 1915, where the sides called a temporary, unofficial truce and played soccer, sang hymns with each other and shared each other's food. When a famous pilot was shot down, enemy pilots were known to fly over the funeral and drop wreaths and dip a wing in salute. Wars have not been that chivalrous since. This film focuses heavily on that feeling of compassion. It is a history lesson of the horrors of war, to be sure, but also a lesson in humanity. Unlike most war movies, this film eschews jingoism and nationalism and focuses more on camaraderie.
While "an American Hero is part of the movie's title domestically, it's released abroad as Sgt Stubby: an Unlikely Hero, and that doesn't change the vibe of the film in the slightest. Not only does it give equal treatment to the French, English and Canadians (many scenes are of the various nationalities teaching each other customs, food preparation and games, really hammering home how we're all different, but how, deep down, we are essentially the same), it also addresses the fact that when war broke out, 20% of our army had been born outside of America.
One of the main characters is an American soldier of direct German descent (who winds up making Stubby's dog tags), and when asked why he signed up, he stressed the importance of everyone banding together to do their bit or else we all would become a lost society. Even the German military, who wore gas masks the whole time as the "faceless enemy," are revealed to be human in a scene where a captured German has his mask removed and Conroy gasps at seeing it's a young man who looks much like himself.
The star of the film, though, is our lovable, brave little mutt who goes from stealing soup bones out of trash cans in New Haven to patrolling the fields of battle, warning of gas attacks, sniffing out German spies, clearing the trenches of rats, and offering succor to wounded and dying soldiers. We follow his heroics with tension and love and hope, and when the action dies down and Stubby gets to ride proudly in a parade or just snuggle happily at his master's feet, we feel what everyone in the world should have a chance to feel: the love and loyalty of a good dog, which to me may be the greatest gift life has to offer.
As of this writing, the film is still in select theaters. Go see it! Support Sgt. Stubby, and maybe we'll see more stories like his in the future. Our lives will be better for it.
Photo by Terrier Hero of Georgetown, Public Domain
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Copyright 2018, Barbara Knott. All Rights Reserved.