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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 them 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.
299:. Rags had his right front paw, right ear and right eye damaged by shell splinters, and was also mildly gassed. Donovan was more seriously wounded and badly gassed. The two were kept together and taken back to a dressing station and then several different hospitals. Whenever this unusual treatment for a mere dog was mentioned, the term "orders from headquarters" was brought into play. Rags' reputation helped smooth the way. The dog quickly healed after excellent treatment. Donovan's health, however, grew worse. Both were returned to the United States.
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carried a number of articles about him. Jack Rohan's book about him was published in 1930. More newspaper and magazine articles followed. Rags was presented with a number of medals and awards. In 1928, he marched down
Broadway with the 1st Division troops as part of the division's 10th anniversary of
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that Rags was the missing mascot of the 1st
Infantry Division and that he was part of a search party. That is a role that Rags was to play for almost twenty years. Upon returning to his unit Donovan escaped punishment and was allowed to keep Rags largely because Donovan was being ordered to the front
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In 1920, Major
Raymond W. Hardenbergh, his wife and two daughters arrived at Fort Sheridan. The family and Rags were soon very attached to each other. The post commander arranged for the family to be given the trusteeship of Rags. After several other tours of duty, the Hardenbergh family arrived at
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In addition to his message-carrying skills in France during World War I, Rags had a number of other unique behaviors. 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
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wires that had been damaged by shellfire. Until wire was replaced, runners had to be used, but they were frequently wounded, killed or could not get through shell holes and barbed wire. Donovan trained Rags to carry written messages attached to his collar.
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in 1924. The 16th
Infantry Regiment of the 1st Division was stationed there and a number had served in World War I and were familiar with Rags and his exploits. He started his ritual of tours and soon was traveling by ferry to Fort Hamilton,
366:. Little is known of Rags over the next two years. In March 1936, Hardenbergh informed Fort Hamilton and the 1st Division that Rags had died. He was 20 years old. Rags was buried with military honors, and a monument was erected at the
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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, dying after returning to a military hospital at
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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
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In early 1919, 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.
252:. Donovan named the dog Rags, having mistaken him for a pile of them when he first found him. Donovan had marched in the Bastille Day parade and was late in reporting back to his unit. To avoid being
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In
September 1918, Rags and Donovan were involved in the final American campaign of the war. Rags carried a number of messages and on October 2, 1918, carried one from the 1st Battalion of the
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World War I reunion. Numerous New York politicians and U.S. Army generals had their pictures taken with Rags. From 1928 until 1934, Rags lived with the
Hardenberghs at Fort Hamilton.
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that resulted in an artillery barrage that led to an important objective, the Very-Epinonville Road, being secured. It saved the lives of a large number of doughboys.
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In July 1918, Rags and
Donovan and an infantry unit of 42 men were cut off and surrounded by Germans. Rags carried back a message which resulted in an
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Donovan's job in the front lines was to string communications wire between advancing infantry and supporting field artillery. He also had to repair
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barrage and reinforcements that rescued the group. News of the exploit spread throughout the 1st Division.
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In 1934, Hardenbergh, by then a lieutenant colonel, was transferred to Washington, D.C., to serve in the
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Saluted every time he saw soldiers on parade. This was a trick Donovan taught him in France.
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who had known him in France. Rags was presented with a number of medals and awards.
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From Stray Dog to World War I Hero: The Paris Terrier Who Joined the First Division
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On October 9, 1918, Rags and Donovan were both the victims of German shellfire and
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565:"Monument Planned To Dog Hero Of War; Rags may be Buried at Fort Hamilton"
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Members of the 1st Division smuggled Rags by train and ship from
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Rags was found abandoned on the streets of Paris by an American
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He was adopted into the 1st Division on July 14, 1918, in the
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657:"The Pershing Story.; Rags Deserved His Tribute"
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623:Rags: the story of a dog who went to war
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625:, New York: Grosset & Dunlap,
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698:First Division Rags Facebook page
728:Military animals of World War I
553:. January 10, 1931. p. 13.
688:Rags: Dog Hero of World War I.
637:Hayter-Menzies, Grant (2015),
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676:(Books ed.), p. 22
248:specialist serving with the
241:, Private James Donovan, an
179:U.S. 1st Infantry Division's
153:Major Raymond W. Hardenbergh
374:near the Hardenbergh home.
303:Return to the United States
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670:"A Bonus For Dog Veterans"
250:U.S. 1st Infantry Division
132:U.S. 1st Infantry Division
693:St. Petersburg Times Rags
340:and the Army Building at
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368:Aspin Hill Memorial Park
408:List of individual dogs
372:Silver Spring, Maryland
344:in downtown Manhattan.
110:Silver Spring, Maryland
608:, pp. 107–113–148
286:26th Infantry Regiment
227:18th Infantry Regiment
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151:James "Jimmy" Donovan
48:Canis lupus familiaris
621:Rohan, Jack (2005) ,
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254:Absent Without Leave
290:7th Field Artillery
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723:1916 animal births
718:1936 animal deaths
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350:The New York Times
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648:978-1-61234-721-9
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318:1st Division Rags
233:Adoption in Paris
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92:3 March 1936
60:Mixed breed
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35:in the 1920s
393:Chips (dog)
265:War service
192:section of
183:World War I
175: 1916
83: 1916
707:Categories
615:References
606:Rohan 2005
594:Rohan 2005
582:Rohan 2005
534:Rohan 2005
522:Rohan 2005
510:Rohan 2005
498:Rohan 2005
486:Rohan 2005
474:Rohan 2005
459:Rohan 2005
447:Rohan 2005
297:gas shells
190:Montmartre
130:Mascot of
117:Occupation
398:Lex (dog)
279:artillery
631:17369733
387:See also
239:doughboy
223:New York
139:Training
31:Rags at
288:to the
261:lines.
215:Chicago
202:war dog
121:War dog
62:terrier
42:Species
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243:A.E.F.
414:Notes
358:Death
309:Brest
148:Owner
56:Breed
643:ISBN
627:OCLC
168:Rags
112:, US
101:, US
89:Died
76:Born
71:Male
20:Rags
370:in
331:in
213:in
68:Sex
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