1
[barking]
[groaning]
Oh...
- Oh...
- [barking]
Come on, come on,
go, go, go, go!
Look away.
Come on, we're coming through.
- Go, go, go. Come on.
- You'll be okay.
You'll be alright. It's alright.
You're gonna be fine.
Thank you, Stubby.
Come on. Out the way, everybody.
Let's go. Let's go.
[indistinct chatter]
- Well done, boy.
- Good boy.
- [whimpering]
- He saved him again.
That's a good dog.
[birds chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
[sniffing]
[car horn honking]
[whining]
[grumbling]
Get out of here,
you stinkin' mutt!
Go rifle through
someone else's trash.
[whimpering]
- Go!
- [thump]
- [woman squeals]
- Watch it, mutt.
- [tires screeching]
- [horn honking]
[man] Come on!
Whose dog is that?
[panting]
- [yelping]
- [cheering]
[band playing]
- [indistinct chatter]
- [sniffing]
[woman] We're so proud of you.
[grumbling]
- [woman] Take care!
- [man] We're proud of you!
[cheering and applause]
[woman] When my brother
put on the uniform
of the United States Army,
I was so very proud.
In 1917, our country
went to war with Germany.
All across the nation,
thousands of young men
answered the call to fight.
They were just boys.
Well,
they were called Doughboys,
and my brother Robert
was one of them.
By the time we joined the war
in April 1917,
the French and British
had already been fighting
the mighty German Army
for three long years.
Their spirits were low.
But they were happy to know
that we were coming to help.
This is the true story
of a special friendship
my brother made
while training for the war.
[patriotic music playing]
[whimpering]
Oh, no, you don't.
Scram, mutt!
[grumbling]
Scram!
[Sergeant]
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
- Platoon... halt!
- [grumbling]
Left... face!
At ease!
[sniffing]
No time for lip spittle, boys.
We have four short weeks left
to turn you into soldiers.
You've worked hard on drill,
learned teamwork,
discipline. But...
next is the crump-hole.
That's why you and I are here.
[humming]
Wha...
How did this dog get in here?
Get out! Get out of here!
Hey!
Ah! [groans]
- [whining]
- Hey. Hey. Shhh. Shhh.
Get off of me. Come on, go.
I don't have any more food.
Go away. Shoo.
Come on, you're gonna get me
in trouble. Get off.
[Sergeant]
Our General Pershing's...
- Off. Go.
- ...gonna change all that.
Shoo. Shoo.
Go. Get away.
[panting]
When we get there,
we're gonna take the fight
to the enemy.
[barks]
[scoffs] At least he's ready.
[barks]
This pooch belong to
any of you men?
I see you eyeballing him,
Private Conroy.
- [barks]
- Better fetch that dog a bone.
Looks like he could use it.
Platoon, atten... tion!
- [barks]
- [chuckles]
Dismissed.
Alright. Come on, boy,
you heard the sergeant.
Let's go.
[woman] And that's how Robert
met his new little buddy.
Come on, move along.
This is not a picnic.
[whining]
It's that mutt again.
Sergeant says get him fed.
Eh? I don't cook for dogs.
Hey, Biscuit,
he might be the only one
that likes your cooking.
Better be nice to him.
[mumbling in Italian]
[scoffs] You really know
how to make friends,
don't you, Olsen?
Sure do. Always.
You, uh,
find a new buddy, Conroy?
No, actually, he kinda found me.
- Isn't that right, boy?
- [barks]
Can't believe
the sergeant let the dog stay.
- He must feel sorry for us.
- [Olsen] Alright, alright.
The sergeant gave him a pass,
but the colonel never will.
Maybe the sergeant wanted
a mascot,
to give the unit
a different look.
Ugh. A different smell, too.
Hey, no, wait!
What the...
No! Bad dog! Bad dog!
- [growling]
- [man laughing]
I hate dogs.
No, no, no, no, no.
- Hey, hey, listen.
- [grumbling]
Listen. Stay.
No. St...
Stay.
Good.
You sleep there, on the floor,
not in my bed.
Good.
[sighing]
Good night, boy.
[whimpering]
[grumbling]
That's enough shuteye!
On your feet! Out of the sack!
[gasps]
[grunting]
[Sergeant]
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
Column left... march!
[whining]
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
Left! Left! Left, right, left!
Left! Left!
Go! Go! Go!
- [soldiers panting]
- [growling playfully]
Over the wall, Clayborn,
not through it!
- [barking]
- I got it.
[groaning]
Whose target is that?
- [barking]
- Hey, boy, go fetch it.
He's quite a dog you got there,
Conroy.
Not even afraid
of the sound of gunfire.
Well done, soldier.
- Thank you, Sergeant.
- Not you.
You missed the target
completely.
- I was talking to the dog.
- [barks]
Pick up your feet, Olsen!
One after the other!
[barking]
[gasps]
[groans] Oh. Ow.
Back of the line, Conroy.
Do it again.
[barking]
[growling softly]
Put your glasses on, Schroeder!
The enemy's that way!
- [soldiers panting]
- [barking]
[woman] I loved hearing
how this little dog
trained right alongside Robert
and his buddies.
[Sergeant] Platoon... halt!
[woman] Robert's letters
were full of his exploits.
It made me happy to know
how much joy
the dog brought
to my kid brother.
[Sergeant] At ease.
Look at him.
He has been training
alongside you guys
and he drills better
than most of you.
You could all learn something
from him.
[all gasp]
[stifled laughter]
[all laugh]
I hope you'll be able to
keep him, Conroy.
This is the army, Schroeder.
If they don't issue it,
you don't need it.
That includes pets.
All the same, I'm keeping him.
In fact,
I thought of a name for him...
Stubby.
[barks]
It's a perfect name
for a perfect little tail.
Ain't that right? [chuckles]
Yeah, right, Stubby?
Whoa. One thing's for certain.
When the colonel catches him,
it's bye-bye, doggie.
- [barks]
- Hm.
Maybe not.
Alright, bud.
Listen to me, listen.
Alright, stay calm.
- [growls playfully]
- Stay... No, listen. Sit. Sit.
Stubby, come on.
We're gonna stay here all night
until we get this right.
Hold it... hold it.
[barks]
Hold... it.
- [typewriter clicks]
- [patriotic music playing]
Over there, over there
Send the word
send the word over there
That's you, men.
You're the Yankee Division.
That includes you too, Stubby.
- [barking]
- [chuckling]
What in Sam Hill
is that dog doing here?
Platoon, attention!
This is an army base,
not a petting zoo!
Whose dog is this?
Yes, he's my dog, Colonel, sir.
[whimpering]
[panting]
[chuckling] What in tarnation?
Did you train this dog, soldier?
Yes, sir.
Wasn't that hard, sir.
Next thing you know,
he'll be barking out
general orders.
Uh, sir, what would you
have us do with the dog?
Well, as long as that dog
soldiers like that,
he's as welcome as any man
in this army.
Carry on, men.
[barks]
You're something else, Stubby.
[bugle playing fanfare]
[Stubby whimpering]
[barking]
[whimpering]
[growling]
[barking]
[whimpering]
Remove your gas masks. Do it!
Do it now!
[coughing]
[whimpering]
Outside! Now!
This is teargas, men,
not the mustard or poisonous gas
you will be facing.
Keep your masks handy
at all times.
Get used to them,
learn to live in them.
[growling]
[whimpering]
[soldiers groaning and coughing]
[bugle playing]
- [Conroy chuckles]
- [barks]
Alright, Stubs, here we go.
[barks]
[laughing]
Ah, okay, Stubby,
you're too quick for me, boy.
[Sergeant] Left! Left!
Left, right, left!
To the rear! March!
Left! Left!
Left, right, left!
Left! Left!
Left, right, left!
Platoon... halt!
Left... face! At ease.
Well done, gentlemen.
You've come a long way.
You too, Stubby.
- [panting]
- [bugle playing]
Yep, that's right,
it's chow time, boy.
Hey, Stubby,
look what I got for you.
Hey, Biscuit, can we get
something other than dog food?
I'm not talking to you, Olsen.
I'm talking to Stubby.
How'd you end up here,
Schroeder?
Yeah, you're a German,
ain't you?
If a German doesn't join,
he's a slacker.
- A what?
- A draft dodger.
[chuckles]
That's why you joined?
Do you see how people
look at Germans these days?
If I didn't join,
I couldn't call myself
an American.
Hey, you know what, Schroeder?
You're an American in my book.
I've watched you men
become soldiers.
It makes me proud.
You, too, Stubby.
I hope you stay on the base
to look after the next group.
Now, take this weekend
to write your letters
and say your farewells.
And pray that
we will all be home
safe and sound very soon.
We ship out on Monday night.
God bless us all,
and God bless
the United States of America.
Take charge of your men,
Sergeant.
[Sergeant] Dismissed!
[woman] Robert told me
how scared
he and the other boys were
when they finally got word
it was time to go to war.
I didn't receive Robert's
last letter from camp
until he had set sail
for France.
He wrote me about
how he would miss me,
but mainly
how heartbroken he was
at having to leave Stubby
behind.
- [whines]
- Not right now, Stubby.
[woman] I was just so worried,
and I prayed
he'd be home again soon.
[whimpering]
Stubby, come on.
This is really hard for me, too.
You're going to be fine
and I will be back
before you know it.
Look. I got a gift for you.
[whimpering]
[barking]
[grumbling]
Hold it, Stubby, hold it!
[laughing]
Look at you, handsome boy!
Looking good, Stubby!
Come now.
[whimpering]
Like I promised,
he'll be here for you
when you get back.
I'll take good care of him.
You hear that, Stubby?
You'll never be hungry.
[barks softly]
[sighs]
[whimpering]
[barking]
[whimpering]
[barking]
Stay, Stubby.
Don't worry, I'll be back soon.
[soldier] Come on, Conroy,
get in line. Let's go.
[barking and whimpering]
[engine rumbling]
[whimpering]
[sighing]
[growling softly]
[dishes rattling]
Stubby! Where you going?
[train whistle blows]
[train chugging]
[ship's horn blowing]
[men shouting]
[soldier] Up, up, up, up.
Bring that up. Hey.
Hey, watch your head over there.
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.
[sniffing]
[wood creaking]
[wind blowing]
[barks softly]
[whimpers]
[gulls squawking]
[sniffing]
[men snoring softly]
[barks]
Ow.
Stubby?
How did you get here?
Where did you come from?
How did you get here?
What are we going to do
with you?
We'll have to hide you.
Somehow.
[Olsen]
Oh, brother, it's the mutt.
How did he get here?
I don't know. It's a miracle.
Stubby, you're just so clever,
aren't you?
[Olsen]
This is a really dumb idea.
- [whining]
- Shhh, Stubby.
Shhh.
We can't let them hear you.
When they find him,
they're gonna throw him
overboard.
[groaning]
[all gasp]
Who in the...? What...?
What the...?
What the devil is going on here?
[panting]
[clears throat]
Better salute, sir.
Someone's got
a lot of explaining to do.
Who smuggled this dog aboard?
He followed me on the train,
sir!
He was quite determined.
But I swear I did not carry him
on board, sir.
He sort of became the regiment's
unofficial mascot, sir.
I didn't carry him on board,
either, sir.
You're quite resourceful,
aren't you, boy?
Why, thank you, fella.
Well, I guess it's better
to have every man and every dog
we can get in this fight.
Make sure he receives some...
dog tags. Carry on.
Mother! How does he keep
getting away with this?
There ya go, Stubby.
You're a real Yankee now.
[barks]
[woman] Every day,
we scanned the newspapers
for news of the Minnesota.
They were full of stories
about our boys
being lost at sea,
but nothing
about the Yankee Division.
I had no idea that Stubby
had made it onboard.
[ship's horn sounds]
[crows cawing]
[woman] It was two long months
before I got word
that Robert and Stubby
were safely in France...
when I heard that
they were headed into action
at a place
called Chemin des Dames,
where they were going
to join the French lines.
[crows cawing]
- [rumbling]
- [soldiers coughing]
- [man] The Americans.
- [soldiers muttering]
- [soldier coughing]
- [whimpering]
[coughing]
Mother, they look like
they've been
through the wringer.
That's why we're here, I guess.
[soldier] Shhh.
- [rumbling]
- [soldier groaning]
[rumbling continues]
- [snoring]
- [mouse squeaking]
- [growling]
- [squeaking]
[barking]
- [snarling and barking]
- [squeaking]
[soldier speaking French]
- [squeaking]
- [snapping teeth]
[barking]
[woman] Evidently,
Stubby wasted no time
- in making himself useful.
- [growling]
He began by clearing
the vermin from the trenches.
[birds chirping]
[groaning] I'm hungry.
Somebody tell me
there's breakfast.
[bird chirping]
[bird chirping frantically]
- [missile whistling]
- Incoming! Take cover!
[men] Get down. Get down!
- Hey, get down!
- Oh!
[whimpering]
[explosion]
- Medic! Medic!
- [man] Keep down!
[whimpering]
[man speaking in French]
Attention!
[confused shouting]
[whimpering]
[woman]
From his first day in action,
Stubby was on a mission.
- [barking]
- [man] Medic!
[woman] And he dug out
many soldiers who'd been buried.
[soldiers shouting in French]
[woman]
Robert was so proud of him.
[whimpering]
[Frenchman]
Injured man coming through!
To your positions!
You must hold them!
Stay on the wall
and watch for an attack!
Come, Sergeant, look.
- [laughter]
- [distant chatter]
- I'll be darned.
- [men speaking German]
Okay, but we must not let down
our guard.
This time,
it was only a little welcome
from our Boche friends.
Move along, Yanks, move along.
You cannot save us
if you hang around in here.
Come on. Next.
I don't think they like us.
I thought "Yankee"
was a good word.
Excuse me, uh,
something for my dog, please.
For your dog?
Are you crazy, Yankee?
He is a soldier.
He's the division mascot.
- Name's Stubby.
- [barks]
You see his dog tags?
And now a Boche is telling me
to give good French food
to an American dog?
[sighs] This war
is getting crazier every day.
I am an American.
Oh, ja, ja.
Of course you are.
[laughing] Yeah.
He is American!
Do you understand?
Well, he sounds like a Boche
to me.
And you sound like a moron,
froggy!
Quoi?
[Olsen] Ow!
- [men shouting]
- [Stubby barking]
Enough, you two.
We are here to fight the Boche,
not each other.
- [barking]
- Allez.
Un bisou.
[men jeering]
[laughing]
Now, that's better.
- We are all friend now, huh?
- [Stubby growling]
[Conroy] Stubby, shhh.
Calm down. Calm down.
Come here.
Calm down, Stubby.
American soldier.
You must be Conroy, no?
Yes. I'm... I'm Conroy.
I am Gaston Baptiste
of the Third Regiment,
and we are to be working
together.
My Capitaine says,
"Look for a man
with a little dog."
Hmm. Really?
Yes. You, me and your,
uh, little friend...
[growling]
You will get so close
to the Boche,
you will be able to smell them.
[sniffs]
[gasps]
Have you ever used
one of these?
Hmm?
Uh, yeah.
Yeah, in basic training.
[growling]
[chuckles]
It's also perfect for cheese.
Want to try some?
I must apologize for this slop
that cook calls food.
- It's war. I understand.
- No, there is no excuse!
Napoleon says
an army marches on its stomach,
so they should fill ours
with good food.
- Voila.
- [Stubby whining]
Uh...
So, what exactly
are we going to be doing?
Can you ride a horse? No?
Yes, yes. I mean, I'm...
I might not be the best,
but you know, I'm okay.
Good, because our officers
have decided
that we will be spying
on the Boche.
Hmm?
You, me and, uh...
- Salty.
- Actually, it's Stubby.
Okay.
But first, let's celebrate.
Uh... No.
No, mais it's only wine.
You don't like wine,
American soldier?
[laughs]
I never drank wine, and I'm sure
it's against the rules for us.
The rules? What rules?
Ha! This is war.
Ah. Without wine,
we French would not
have survived these three years,
so they give it to us.
- The French army gives you wine?
- Bien sr, mon ami!
We French go from the milk
of our mothers
to the juice of the vine.
[chuckles]
Hey, you hear that, Stubby?
- They get wine.
- [barks]
Eh. Okay, let's go.
Hey, Conroy, Conroy.
What's happening?
Uh, apparently,
I have to follow him.
Eh. Lucky you.
And you two, come with me.
[crows cawing]
This is horrible.
Everything's destroyed.
Everything.
[Gaston] No, not everything
- [explosions]
- [Conroy] Stubby, down!
[whimpering]
[Gaston] Come, my friends.
Those are ours.
[chuckles]
We pay them back
for this morning.
I thought
we were being attacked.
[Gaston] You will soon know
the difference
between theirs and ours.
[French music playing]
[indistinct chatter]
Et voil.
Here it is, your new home.
Sweet dreams.
- [whistle blowing]
- [man] Get up now, everybody!
Everybody, get up!
- [Olsen] Come on, Conroy.
- [whistle blowing]
- [Stubby barks]
- [Conroy groans]
Now, let me sleep Stubby,
just let me sleep
a little bit more.
Woof-woof.
- Oh. Uh. Ah. Sorry.
- Alright, get up now.
Yeah, I'm up, I'm up.
I'm up. I'm getting up.
[birds chirping]
Uh...
Have you done this before?
Don't worry, it will be fine.
I've done this many times.
Where did you find him?
[Conroy] Oh. Uh...
He was living rough.
He joined us
when we were training.
He's not very beautiful.
Oh. Pfft.
Maybe not,
but he's got real character.
Just like me.
I'm not the most beautiful,
but I'm strong and lovable.
[Conroy chuckles]
Uh-huh.
This is the place.
We get a good view from here.
[bird calling]
What do you see?
[soldiers speaking German]
- Look.
- [Stubby growling softly]
It's gas.
We need to sound the alarm.
Let's go.
[breathing through gas mask]
- [Stubby barks]
- [Conroy gasps]
[growling]
- [German soldier] Halt!
- Run! Run!
- [German] Stop!
- [gunshot]
- I said stop! Halt!
- [gunshot]
[gunshots continue]
[horses whinnying]
- The horses! Stay here! Stay!
- Stay, stay! Come on!
Stubby, go!
Go tell them, Stubby, go!
- [gunshot]
- [panting]
[speaking German]
[barking]
[barking and growling]
What? Stubby?
Okay! Gas!
- Gas!
- [ringing bell]
Gas!
- [indistinct shouting]
- [barking]
[man]
Move it, move it, move it!
Let's go, let's go!
Get a move on!
[snoring]
- [grunting]
- Oh. [gasps]
[German soldier] Feuer!
[birds chirping]
- Hey, little dog.
- [barking]
[indistinct chatter]
Oh. Oh, no.
Gas? Gas! Look, gas!
The dog is trying to warn us!
Everybody, go inside
and put on your masks!
[barking continues]
There he is! Stubby!
[whimpering]
[horses whinnying]
Oh, no,
we don't have a mask for him!
What are we gonna do?
- [horses whinnying]
- [barking]
Ah. There, there.
Hold on. Wait.
It's okay, Stubby. It's okay.
Good boy.
- You've done well.
- Allez, calme-toi. Calme-toi.
- [creaking]
- [Stubby whimpering]
It's okay. Shhh.
Stubby, it's gonna be okay.
Shhh.
[birds chirping]
[indistinct chatter]
[exclamations of relief]
- a va?
- a va.
Hey!
- Come here. Come here, boy.
- [barks]
Thank you
from our whole village!
His name is Stubby.
Ah. Stubby.
You are our hero, Stubby.
[woman]
Robert's letters were full
of just how beloved Stubby was
by everyone.
[villagers speaking in French]
- Merci.
- Merci toi.
[woman]
It was as if he lived every day
through the heroics
of this little canine wonder.
[villager] Merci.
Yeah, but they were so generous.
Yes, yes, but no meat.
- [rustling]
- [rifles cocking]
Mm, I think this war
has just improved.
Mm! Like a magician,
I'm creating magic
with a simple rabbit.
[barks]
Allez, Olsen.
Now you throw the cochonnet.
- The what?
- This.
Not too far, not too close.
Bon, bon, bon, bon, bon.
I explain.
It must land
within six to ten meters
of the starting circle.
Allez, Olsen,
now you throw the cochonnet.
- Okay.
- You can do it, Olsen.
Sacre bleu!
Rends-nous le cochonnet!
Give us the cochonnet, cabot!
Sale petit chien!
[laughing]
Stubby...
Drop it, Stubby. Drop it.
Ah. Merci!
No, Stubby,
you can't take the cochonnet.
Ptanque is a very
serious business
in this country.
- War has started for less.
- [Conroy sighs]
Sorry. He just...
he loves to play ball.
Mm...
Ta-dah. C'est prt!
[sniffing]
Now we are ready to eat.
[grumbling]
[Gaston] Ah, excuse me
for my bad manners.
It's your rabbit, too, Stubby.
Mm. Whoa!
This... this is really good.
Yes, is very tasty, huh?
[chuckles]
Even if I say myself.
[exclaiming and laughing]
- moi le point!
- Okay.
Now,
if you want to score the point,
you see that ball there?
Hit it hard.
You know, we should take
a little after-dinner stroll,
while we still can.
Yeah, sure.
C'mon, Stubby.
[grumbling]
[squeaking]
[whistles] Nice shot.
- [barks]
- [Conroy chuckles]
Okay, alright.
I have no tobacco,
but I carry it everywhere
with me.
It was a present from my wife.
I never showed you my family.
- Wow, three girls.
- Yes.
Jeanne. She's 11. Manon, eight.
And Madeleine, six.
They capture my heart
completely.
They would love
to play with you, Stubby.
They would take you
into the forest,
chasing the sanglier.
Yeah, sanglier.
Uh, what... what are they?
Wild pigs.
You know, with the tusks.
[Conroy] Oh. Oh, I get it.
Your daughters chase wild pigs?
[Gaston] Yes. One day,
they will make fine hunters.
[Conroy] Really?
Uh...
And what about you?
Uh... [chuckles]
My sister Margaret
is like a mom to me
and my two younger sisters.
She cared for our mother
before she passed,
and my dad passed away
when I was five.
I do hope to have a wife
and children one day.
It is the best. My wife, Alice,
she's, uh... how you say?
...nagging me all the time,
but I wouldn't change her.
[chuckles]
- When did you last see them?
- It is more than two years.
Two years?
Wow, that's a darned long time.
Don't you ever get lonely?
Yes. Well, sometimes.
But now you Americans are here,
it will be over soon, you know.
Two kings! I win!
[chuckles]
Look, I have two kings!
Ha-ha! I beat you, Yankee.
Hold on a minute.
Hold... hold on a minute.
I have a flush, so... I won.
Flush? Flush, flush, flush,
flush, flush...
What is this flush?
Surely the kings are the kings,
you know, the best!
[groaning]
So, um,
before you were a soldier,
what did you do?
I'm a chef in my own restaurant.
A good restaurant.
Ah! That's why
you're such a good cook.
A real French chef
cooking dinner for us, Stubby.
What do you think of that, huh?
This is how I learn my English.
And you, what do you do?
I work in a builder's
hardware store, uh,
selling screws and nails.
It's not a great job, but...
it's home.
I miss it.
We French make home
wherever we are.
It's about food,
wine and good company.
You know, on a night like this,
we can forget about the war.
We heard the attack
and came as fast as we could!
Where do you want us to be,
Sergeant?
We've beaten them back for now,
but Clayborn
is still somewhere out there.
Gotta bring him in somehow.
[man shouting]
We got wounded! We got wounded!
Coming through, guys,
coming through!
Mind your backs! Stretchers!
- [Gaston] Stubby!
- Come on, let's go!
Where are you going, Conroy?
[barks]
[explosions]
- [missiles firing]
- [Stubby whimpering]
[Conroy sighs]
I can't see anything.
[big explosion]
Stubby!
[whimpering]
[explosion]
[groaning]
Oh...
- Oh...
- [barking]
- [gunfire]
- Get down!
Smoke at 7-5-0 yards!
- [barking]
- Come on, go, go, go, go, go!
[Margaret] I realized that
every day spelled danger.
There was no letup for our boys.
[distant explosions]
Out the way.
Come on. We're coming through.
- Go, go, go, go, go.
- Come on. You're gonna be okay.
You're gonna be alright.
It's alright.
- You're gonna be fine.
- Good boy.
Come on. Out the way, everybody.
Let's go.
[Clayborn]
Thank you, Stubby.
[Margaret]
I got word in April of 1918
that the Yankee Division
was moving to a new
battle sector at Seicheprey.
[barking]
[Olsen] Look... look at him!
Mother! How that mutt survived,
I'll never know.
I was sure
the Boche would get him.
He is so lucky.
[Schroeder] He's so brave.
I wish I had half his courage.
Courage? It's not courage.
It's dumb luck. Believe me.
- [woman] Monsieur?
- Hey, Stubby.
Monsieur Conroy, please.
- Ow. Uh...
- [chuckling]
- Sorry. Hello, ma'am.
- Hello.
It is for Stubby.
We made it for him
to keep him warm
and to say thank you
for the day of the gas.
Ah. Gee, thank you.
Merci beaucoup.
Stubby, what do you say
to this nice lady?
[barks softly]
No, no, not like that. You know.
[whining]
[woman giggles]
You are such
a clever little dog, Stubby.
Oh, I forgot.
I have something for Stubby
my sergeant made for him.
[growling and barking]
[Gaston] Don't be like that,
my little friend.
This will save your life.
[growling softly]
Thank you, Gaston.
And thank you again, ma'am.
Goodbye, Stubby and...
Monsieur Conroy.
- Take good care of yourselves.
- We'll take care of one another.
Oui, comme
les Trois Mousquetaires.
All for one...
...and one for all!
[barks]
Well, well, I think
it's you she likes, Conroy, no?
[chuckles]
[Margaret]
Robert, Stubby and Gaston
spent the next few months
in the Sibille trench,
right in the path
of the German advance
as they desperately tried
to move on Paris.
Every soldier, cook and medic
took part in the fight.
I had no idea that Seicheprey
would be described
as the single largest
American battle
of World War One.
And my poor kid brother
and his dog
were smack dab in the middle
of it all.
A welcome sight you are, Stubby.
[chuckles]
Whoa, whoa, whoa there, fella.
[Conroy] I think
he remembers you, Colonel, sir.
Now, no more reconnaissance
for the moment.
The Germans
are pressing us hard,
so I need every man
reinforcing the line.
- Yes, sir!
- vos ordres, mon colonel.
[muffled chatter]
- [clicking]
- [muffled chatter]
[barking and growling]
What is it? What's going on?
What happened?
Calm down. Calm down!
[barking continues]
[missiles whistling]
- [barking]
- [explosions]
[shouting in German]
[screaming]
[shouting and screaming]
- [groaning]
- [barking]
Come on, come on, come on.
Conroy, watch out!
- [soldiers shouting]
- Come on, follow me.
- [whistling]
- [Stubby barks]
[gunfire]
Now let's set a trap
for these rats.
[growling]
- [barking]
- [Conroy] Stubby!
[growling and barking]
[whistles] Hande hoch!
Drop your weapons!
[Stubby growling]
Kamerad! Kamerad.
No, you are not my kamerad.
You are my prisoner.
Keep your hands up.
[growling]
Good work, my friend.
I will take them now.
Go.
You're such a brave boy,
you know that?
It's not over, boys!
Keep your eyes peeled!
- [shell whistling]
- They'll be back!
Ah!
[shell whistling]
- [barks]
- [screams]
Stubby, no!
[explosion]
Stubby!
Anybody hurt? Any wounded?
- [Stubby whimpering]
- [shell whistling]
Stubby! Stubby.
Stubby! Oh, come on. Stubby?
You'll be okay. Come on.
Come on, come on, come on.
You'll be okay,
you're gonna be okay. Come on.
- [whimpering]
- [explosions]
Alright. Come on, Stubby!
Please stay with me.
Come on. Please stay with me.
[exhales deeply]
Schroeder, Schroeder,
d'you see
what that dumb dog did?
He saved my life.
- [man] We need a medic now!
- D'you hear me, Schroeder?
- [groaning]
- Wounded man here!
Quickly, we need help!
Anybody!
It's gonna be okay, boy.
I promise. I promise.
[indistinct shouting]
Hey, Conroy.
Stubby.
Stubby,
what have they done to you?
Come on.
- Doc! Doc, Stubby needs help.
- That's a bad wound.
I don't know
if there's much we can do,
and he's a dog, soldier.
I'm sorry.
He's my friend, he's one of us!
He saved lives.
Please. Please, Doc.
Please.
I'm sure the doctor
will do his best.
Right, Doc? Hm?
Okay, okay.
Just lay him on the ambulance.
[whimpering]
You come back soon, little dog.
We need our third musketeer.
Guys, make way! Move!
Alright, hurry, hurry!
- Schroeder?
- [grunts]
Let's keep moving,
keep moving.
Alright, get that, yes.
Don't worry, Conroy.
He's strong.
Great day to...
be an American, right, Stubby?
- [whimpering]
- [explosions]
[Margaret] After Schroeder
and Stubby were wounded,
the fighting around Seicheprey
had become ferocious.
And the rains came down.
It rained day after day
after day,
turning the whole place
into a quagmire.
- [thunder crashes]
- [explosions]
I can only begin to imagine
how Robert missed Stubby.
He must've felt totally lost
without the little fella.
[sighs]
Come on, Conroy.
I know it's hard,
- but you must stay strong.
- [explosion]
- [men shouting]
- German attack! Let's go!
[Margaret]
The Yankee Division
was driven out
of the Sibille trench
and the town of Seicheprey.
As the Germans desperately
tried to reach Paris,
all that stood between them
and their prize were our boys.
It was a real worrying time
for us back home.
They mean business.
We need to stop them.
[shell whistling]
No, not now, Musketeer.
Tomorrow.
First, we need to rest.
I miss him too,
but I know the Three Musketeers
will be together again
very soon.
I feel it.
[sighs]
You think?
Yes.
And the good thing is,
we are out of those trenches,
my feet are dry at last.
All that mud and those rats...
Argh. Dgueulasse.
Baptiste?
You've been ordered
to return to your regiment camp.
Grab your gear and move out.
Stubby, Schroeder, and now you?
So much for your predictions.
You'll be fine.
Before I leave,
just take my advice.
To stay alive,
you need to feel fear.
Fear?
But you show no fear.
You laugh!
You mean this?
[chuckles]
It only protects
my fragile heart.
[chuckling]
Farewell, my good friend.
Until we meet again.
Adieu.
La Madelon vient
Nous servir boire
Sous la tonnelle
Elle frle son jupon
Et chacun lui raconte
Une histoire
Une histoire sa faon
Adieu, mon ami.
[Margaret]
After much hard fighting,
our boys retook Seicheprey
and drove the Germans back.
It was not until much later
that I learned just how fierce
the battle had been.
[Conroy]
My dear sister Margaret,
I hope you and the girls
are keeping well.
- I'm doing just fine.
- [shell whistling]
- [coughing]
- [explosion]
[clears throat]
[sighs]
Even the chow is okay.
Well, not like your cooking,
but pretty much most of it
I can eat.
[coughing]
It's almost four weeks
since Stubby got hit
and there's still no news
of him.
I'm sure he's being
taken real good care of.
Gaston, Stubby and me,
we called ourselves
The Three Musketeers.
You know, like in the book
Mom read to us
when we were kids?
[clears throat]
Well, the other day...
Gaston was sent back
to his regiment.
[coughs]
It's all going to be over soon,
and then we'll be coming home.
[coughing]
I send my love to you all.
- Your loving brother, Robert.
- [shell whistling]
[explosion overhead]
[Margaret]
Robert was always good
at putting a brave face on,
and I knew
that was what he was doing.
His two best friends gone,
my heart went out to him.
[coughing]
[groaning]
[panting]
[whimpering]
- [birds chirping]
- [indistinct chatter]
[grunts]
[crows cawing]
[whimpering]
[sniffing]
[speaking German]
[sniffing]
- Come on, Conroy, wake up.
- [coughing]
It's guard time.
We'll miss chow.
[coughing]
Conroy?
- [rasping]
- Oh, no.
Quick, we need a doctor!
My buddy is real sick!
[speaking German]
[clattering]
- Was?
- Ein hund!
- [speaking German]
- [gunshot]
He's the fifth soldier
this week.
I don't know what it is.
Just gotta keep an eye on him.
He's too sick to move.
But he is gonna make it,
right, Doc?
I don't know.
Maybe... maybe not.
[Margaret] In 1918,
the whole world was seized
by a deadly flu epidemic,
and Robert caught it too.
It spread through our boys
like a poison cloud.
[gasps] I gotta get out there
and fight. I need to get up.
We're good, Conroy.
We're good, we're good.
[whimpering]
Everything's good.
The Boche are real quiet.
Just get better.
Mm... Stubby.
Where's... Stubby?
Just let him rest.
That's the only thing
he can do now.
[whimpering]
[groaning]
[whimpering]
[mumbling]
I... I need to fight.
[groaning]
[whimpering]
[growling]
[sighing]
[rustling]
[rustling]
[rustling]
[groans]
[barks]
[barks softly]
[indistinct chatter]
[Margaret]
I was so happy to hear
that Robert was on the mend,
and that he and Stubby
were reunited.
And good news!
After six months
of hard fighting,
he and Stubby
went on a furlough to Paris.
Never imagined
my first trip to Paris
would be in a cattle wagon.
So glamorous!
[Margaret]
I remember thinking,
maybe this dreadful war
was finally coming to an end.
You're gonna have to lay down
at some stage.
[whistling]
Room for one more?
- Hey, buddy, you made it!
- [Conroy] Schroeder!
- Stubby, look, he's back!
- [barks]
Stubby, you're here!
What happened to you?
Hello?
Why is it always about Stubby?
I found him.
"Thank you, Olsen,
for finding Stubby.
Oh, that was great!"
Sorry, Olsen. Come here!
[indistinct shouting]
[hooves clopping]
[Conroy] This looks nice.
[giggling]
- What do you think, Stubby?
- [barks]
- You coming, Schroeder?
- Yep, I'm with you!
[indistinct chatter]
[sighs]
[Margaret] In the beginning,
the French were very suspicious
of Americans,
but by the fall of 1918,
they loved us.
- [exclamations of approval]
- [man] Bravo!
[woman] Bravo aux Amricains.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
[man] Bravo aux Amricains!
Merci. Thanks.
Come on, let's go see Paris!
What are we waiting for?
[aircraft buzzing overhead]
[Margaret] By September of 1918,
we were told that the war
was coming to an end,
and that the German army
was in retreat.
[growling]
- What is it, Stubby?
- [sniffing]
[growling]
[whispering] Stubby.
Stubby, come back.
[distant gunfire]
[sniffing and growling]
- [barks]
- [gasps]
[screams]
No! [grunts]
- [guns cocking]
- Don't even think about it.
This is yours now, Stubby.
You earned it.
[mumbling in German]
Well, look what Stubby
sniffed out.
[speaking German] ...kamerad!
- [Olsen] Move it!
- No!
- [coughing]
- [growling]
- Come on.
- [Stubby barks]
[Colonel] We are here today
to mark the courage
of a very brave solider,
who went above and beyond
the call of duty.
Private First Class Conroy
and Stubby, post!
For his capture
of a German spy in Marcheville,
I confer the honorary rank
of Sergeant on Stubby,
the regimental mascot.
From this day forward,
Sergeant Stubby
will wear these stripes.
And for you, Private Conroy,
today you are Corporal Conroy.
Hey, Stubby, you outrank me now.
[barks]
[clapping and cheering]
Gaston!
For the newspapers back home!
Say cheese!
[Margaret]
The newspaper headlines
all talked about a final attack
on the German Hindenburg line.
After the return of his friends,
Robert's letters were cheery
and full of good humor.
He even told me a funny story
about how Stubby
came face-to-face
with a strange new beast of war.
[barking]
[growling]
Okay, Sergeant,
I'm Captain George S. Patton
of the United States Tank Corps.
Let's go.
We've got a war to win.
That's my boy.
[indistinct shouting]
[shouting in German]
[shouting in German]
[scoffs] I can't believe it.
The Germans built this like
they were going to stay forever.
The Boche build palaces
and we had to live
in those puddles?
It's over, it's over!
Did you hear?
The war is over!
The Germans are signing
an armistice.
- Says who?
- What are you talking about?
It's true!
The war is to end tomorrow!
Hey, did you hear that, Stubby?
- [barking]
- [cheering]
[Sergeant] Hold on,
hold on there, soldiers!
Cease-fire doesn't start
till 11 a.m.!
- [man] Germany surrendered!
- When is it over?
We have a war to fight!
You know, guys, when I get home,
I'm gonna find myself a wife.
I thought you were going
to wait until you found a job.
Nah,
after all we've been through,
I'm ready for some home life.
Me, too.
Can't wait to introduce Stubby
to my sisters.
I've been away so long,
I worry my girls
will not recognize me.
[sighs]
Why can't we just leave now?
Just think, one last push
and we're all going home.
Well, little buddy,
we're nearly there.
Just a few more hours and...
it'll all be over.
[sighs]
[Margaret] Robert and Stubby
spent their last night
of the Great War
huddled together
under an oak tree.
A man and his dog,
unselfish friends,
comrades in arms.
- [whistle blowing]
- [all shouting]
[sniffing]
- [speaking German]
- [Gaston] Drop your weapons!
[gasps]
[Stubby barks]
- [Conroy grunts]
- [Stubby barks]
- [growling]
- [gun cocks]
[barking and growling]
- [growling]
- [bugle playing fanfare]
[distant cheering and whistling]
[growling and barking]
Thank you, my friend.
[Margaret] I never did
understand why our boys
were made to attack until
the very last minute of the war.
So many young men were lost
on that morning,
but they did their duty...
to the very end.
We made it.
[chuckles]
[barking]
[indistinct shouting]
[sniffing]
[Schroeder] Olsen!
[whimpering]
Olsen!
Olsen, where are you?
Where are you?
[horse whinnying]
Well, my friends,
we have seen much together,
and now the Three Musketeers
must say goodbye.
Stubby!
Yes, good boy.
My friend Olsen
gave these to me.
I will always think of him
when I play poker.
Take this and think of us.
Goodbye, Yankees,
and thank you all.
[engine starts]
- All for one!
- And one for all!
- [applauding]
- [barking]
Vive la France!
Vive les tats-Unis!
[cheering]
- We're so proud of you!
- Welcome!
- Welcome home, boys.
- Welcome back!
Great job.
It's so nice to have you back!
Robert!
[woman]
A hero! You're a hero, Stubby!
[barks]
[journalist]
Stubby, look into the camera!
And... hold it right there.