08/13/2023
‘RAGS – WAR HERO’ (Inscription on his monument).
Rags (c. 1916 – March, 1936) was a mixed breed terrier who became the U.S. 1st Infantry Division's dog mascot in WW1.
He was adopted into the 1st Division in July, 1918, in the Montmartre section of Paris, France. Rags remained its mascot until his death in Washington, D.C., in March, 1936.
He learned to run messages between the rear headquarters and the front lines, and provided early warning of incoming shells. Rags achieved great notoriety and celebrity war dog fame when he saved many lives in the Meuse-Argonne Campaign by delivering a vital message despite being bombed, gassed and partially blinded.
His adopted owner and handler, Private James Donovan, was seriously wounded and gassed, and returned to a military hospital in the United States.
Members of the 1st Division smuggled Rags by train and ship from Brest in France to Fort Sheridan in Chicago. He accompanied James Donovan, who was placed in the Fort Sheridan Base Hospital, which specialized in gas cases. Rags made his home at the base firehouse and was given a collar with a tag that identified him as 1st Division Rags.
In early 1919, James Donovan died and Rags became the post dog, living in the firehouse and eating at various mess halls that he carefully selected. He was watched over by a number of soldiers on the post.
Rags was adopted by the family of Major Raymond W. Hardenbergh in 1920, moving with them through several transfers, until in Fort Hamilton, New York, he was reunited with members of the 18th Infantry Regiment who had known him in France. Rags was presented with a number of medals and awards.
In addition to his message-carrying skills in France during WW1, Rags had a number of other unique behaviours.
When Rags was first in the front lines and came under shellfire, he simply imitated the men around him who would drop to the ground and hug it tightly. Before long, the soldiers observed Rags hugging the ground with his paws spread out before anyone heard the sound of an incoming round.
The men soon realized that Rags' acute and sensitive hearing was telling him when the shells were coming well before they could hear them. The doughboys learned to keep their eyes on Rags, and he became an early-warning system for artillery shell fire.
During a rest period behind the lines, James Donovan taught Rags a method of dog saluting that Rags would use for the rest of his military life. Instead of extending his paw out to shake hands, as most dogs were taught, Rags would raise his paw a bit higher and close to his head.
For many years afterward, Rags would appear at the flag pole at various military bases for the retreat ceremony. As the flag was lowered and the bugle played, Rags could be seen saluting with the assembled troops. He was observed doing this at Forts Sheridan and Hamilton.
Another lifelong activity was Rags' daily tour of whatever army base at which he was living. Early on, he would identify the mess halls with the best food and most hospitable staff. He would visit them each day for treats, and most had a special water bowl placed out for him.
Rags died in March 1936, aged 20 years and was buried with military honours, and a monument was erected at the Aspin Hill Memorial Park in Silver Spring, Maryland near the Hardenbergh home.[
Lest We Forget.
Photograph and information came from Wikipedia.
