Sergeant Stubby — A dog who became a soldier and saved a U.S. troop.

In this photo taken around 1920, the brave dog is proudly displayed wearing a mug with numerous medals pinned to it. The Boston terrier named Stubby survived 17 battles and at one point even held a higher military rank than his owner.

[Photo: Public domain, National Museum of American History]

Stubby was a true celebrity of his time, matching the fame of the biggest movie stars. The animal was characterized by great cleverness and skills, which proved extremely valuable in the frontline conditions of the First World War. His fame continued unabated even as many countries were still licking their wounds at the end of the global conflict.

War hero

Not surprisingly, when a ceremony was held at the White House on July 6, 1921, to award the adorable dog a special medal from the Humane Education Society, it drew a crowd of reporters and photographers.

[Photo: Stubby: Terrier Hero of Georgetown, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

“Stubby, a brindle Boston terrier who served overseas as the mascot of the American Expeditionary Forces, was decorated today as a World War hero by General John Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of American forces in Europe during that conflict. (…) During the presentation of the decoration, General…