Rags born in Paris, France, was a mixed breed terrier who became the U.S. 1st Infantry Division's dog-mascot in World War I

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

.

He was adopted into the 1st Division on July 14, 1918 in the Montmartre

Montmartre

Montmartre is a hill which is 130 metres high, giving its name to the surrounding district, in the north of Paris in the 18th arrondissement, a part of the Right Bank. Montmartre is primarily known for the white-domed Basilica of the Sacré Cœur on its summit and as a nightclub district...

 section of Paris, France. Rags remained its mascot until his death in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 on March 22, 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

War dog

Dogs in warfare have a long history starting in ancient times. From 'war dogs' trained in combat to their use as scouts, sentries and trackers, their uses have been varied and some continue to exist in modern military usage.-History:...

 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, dying after returning to a military hospital at Fort Sheridan in Chicago

Chicago

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...

. Rags was adopted by the family of Major Raymond W. Hardenberg there in 1920, moving with them through several transfers until in Fort Hamilton

Fort Hamilton

Historic Fort Hamilton is located in the southwestern corner of the New York City borough of Brooklyn surrounded by the communities of Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, and Bensonhurst, and is one of several posts that are part of the region which is headquartered by the Military District of Washington...

, New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

, he was reunited with members of the 18th Infantry Regiment who had known him in France.

Rags' adoption in Paris

Rags was found abandoned on the streets of Paris by an American doughboy

Doughboy

Doughboy is an informal term for an American soldier, especially members of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. The term dates back to the Mexican–American War of 1846–48....

, Private James Donovan, an A.E.F.

American Expeditionary Force

The American Expeditionary Forces or AEF were the United States Armed Forces sent to Europe in World War I. During the United States campaigns in World War I the AEF fought in France alongside British and French allied forces in the last year of the war, against Imperial German forces...

 signal corps specialist serving with the U.S. 1st Infantry Division

U.S. 1st Infantry Division

The 1st Infantry Division of the United States Army is the oldest division in the United States Army. It has seen continuous service since its organization in 1917...

. Donovan named the dog Rags because when he first found him he mistook him for a pile of rags. Donovan had marched in the Bastille Day parade and was late in reporting back to his unit. To avoid being Absent Without Leave (AWOL) Donovan told Military Police

Military police

Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...

 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 lines.
Donovan's job in the front lines was to string communications wire between advancing infantry and supporting field artillery. He also had to repair field telephone

Field telephone

Field telephones are mobile telephones intended for military use, designed to withstand wartime conditions. They can draw power from their own battery, from a telephone exchange , or from an external power source. Some need no battery, being sound-powered telephones.Field telephones were first used...

 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. 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 artillery

Artillery

Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...

 barrage and reinforcements that rescued the group. News of the exploit spread throughout the 1st Division.

Wounded and gassed

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 26th Infantry Regiment to the 7th Field Artillery

7th Field Artillery Regiment (United States)

The 7th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States Army field artillery regiment, whose lineage traces back to the early 20th century.-World War I:...

 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.
On October 9, 1918 Rags and Donovan were both the victims of German shellfire and gas shells. 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 grew worse. Both were returned to the United States.

Return to the United States

Members of the 1st Division smuggled Rags by train and ship from Brest

Brest, France

Brest is a city in the Finistère department in Brittany in northwestern France. Located in a sheltered position not far from the western tip of the Breton peninsula, and the western extremity of metropolitan France, Brest is an important harbour and the second French military port after Toulon...

 in France to Fort Sheridan in Chicago. He accompanied James Donovan, who was placed in the Fort Sheridan Base Hospital that specialized in gas cases. Rags made his home at the base fire house and was given a collar with a tag that identified him as 1st Division Rags. In early 1919 Donovan died and Rags became the post dog, living in the fire house and eating at various mess halls that he carefully selected. He was watched over by a number of soldiers on the post.
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 Governor's Island in New York harbor

New York Harbor

New York Harbor refers to the waterways of the estuary near the mouth of the Hudson River that empty into New York Bay. It is one of the largest natural harbors in the world. Although the U.S. Board of Geographic Names does not use the term, New York Harbor has important historical, governmental,...

 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, Fort Wadsworth

Fort Wadsworth

Fort Wadsworth is a former United States military installation on Staten Island in New York City, situated on The Narrows which divide New York Bay into Upper and Lower halves, a natural point for defense of the Upper Bay and Manhattan beyond. Prior to closing in 1994 it claimed to be the longest...

 and the Army Building at Whitehall Street in downtown Manhattan. He became a well-known New York City celebrity. The New York Times contained 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 divisions 10th Anniversary of 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.

Death in Washington, D.C.

In 1934, Hardenbergh, by then promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, was transferred to Washington, D.C. to serve in the War Department

United States Department of War

The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...

. Little is known of Rags over the next 2 years. In March 1936 Hardenbergh informed Ft. Hamilton and the 1st Division that Rags had died. He was 20 years old. Rags was buried with military honors and an impressive monument was erected at the Aspen Hill memorial park and animal sanctuary in Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring, Maryland

Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...

near the Hardenbergh home.

Unique behavior

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 observed Rags hugging the ground with his paws spread out before anyone had 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 the men 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 ahead 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 Fort Sheridan and Fort Hamilton.
Another life long activity was Rags' daily tour of whatever army base at which he was living. Early on he identified 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.

External links

• Rags: Dog Hero of World War I.