From Stray Dog to World War I Hero: The Paris Terrier Who Joined the First Division by Grant Hayter-Menzies tells the story of Rags, a lovely, heartfelt story that will appeal to dog lovers and to those interested in WWI history.

This new biography of Rags includes his post-war life as a family dog and media sensation American Hero. We learn about Rags' war record and the soldier who he loved and loved him, about other great canine heroes of the war, and the founding and fate of the first cemetery for animals.

Sometime in 1916 a scruffy, taffy colored, floppy eared dog with a fluffy arching tale was born in the streets of war-torn Paris. The winter of 1917 was one of the coldest on record but somehow the little dog survived the bitter cold, living off scavenged food. Like the Parisians around him he learned to dive for cover when the sirens sounded; he would fall flat to the ground. Life on the street was harsh.

In 1918 American soldiers Donovan and Hickman encountered the scruffy mutt. The dog lovers must have shown him some care and they were followed. Hickman had a mascot so the dog went along with Donovan. An MP picked Donovan up but was charmed by his story of searching for his lost mascot Rags and they were let go. Within four days the First Division of the American Expeditionary Force, Rags included, went into battle at Soissons. Donovan doubted his decision to bring the dog into the melee and took Rags to the division headquarters. On his return to the field he found Rags had followed him back. Rags had made his decision; Donovan was his.

Donovan found that Rags hated to do tricks but loved work. Somehow the two novices worked together to make Rags a message carrier. One day when Donovan was on patrol a shell downed the soldier watching Rags. Rags ran to find Donovan; coming across artillerymen instead he barked at them until they followed him back to the downed soldier. Another time Rags came across a runner killed in the field; Rags found the paper he had been carrying, picked it up, and took it to Donovan. Rags became expert at finding broken communication wires. He also wandered off, one day finding himself in an surveillance balloon when it was launched. The Germans shot the balloon down, and a soldier took Rags in his arms as he parachuted down. A Fokker came towards them, but seeing the dog he waved and banked off. Killing American soldiers was one thing; but the German was not about to kill a gallant little dog! The stories of his heroism and love go on.

Rags life changed when he and Donovan were gassed. Donovan was severely wounded, his lungs badly burned. Rags suffered injuries, his eye blinded and shrapnel wounding his paw and ear. Against all Army rules Col. Holbrook, soldiers, and nurses helped the two stay together, even helping Rags enter the United States. There were no provisions for the returning of service dogs, they were usually dispatched. Rags arrived at Ft. Sheridan hidden under a coat. He was taken up by the local fire hall but spent days hidden under Donovan's hospital cot. Chief medical officer Col. Bispham had a special collar made for Rags. Rags kept his vigil until Donovan's death, and he spent days in grief before rallying.

A new life awaited Rags. Rags fell in love with Lt. Hardenbergh's two daughters. Over the next sixteen years Rags was cared for by the family. They noted his love for sweets and hatred of sudden noises. He would sit and salute soldiers. They made Rags a new collar with chevrons marking his war service and battle wounds. Rags became a media sensation and a prideful symbol of the First Division. Rags was briefly reunited with Sgt. Hickman, a joyous reunion for both.

The stories tell of the love between a street mutt and soldiers of all ranks. Rags never forgot a friend.

Rags was buried in Aspin Hill Memorial Park, the resting ground of many mascots and beloved pets.

The author is donating a portion of each book's sales to the non-profit Nowzad Dogs which reunites Afghanistan soldiers with the dog or cat they adopted while deployed.

This is the story of Rags, a scruffy, taffy-colored terrier with floppy ears and a fluffy curling tail. Nothing is known of his earliest days when he lived on the streets. And little is told of all his war experiences with Sgt. Jimmy Donovan. He served as a message runner and helped find breaks in communication lines. He and Donovan suffered a gas attack, which left him with a cough for the rest of his life and within a couple years claimed Donovan’s life.
Rags was smuggled aboard the hospital ship taking Donovan back to the US, and aboard the train that took them to Fort Sheridan in Illinois where Donovan died.
Much is revealed about his life afterwards when he joined an army family and moved to army bases in New York and the Washington area. We learn a lot about the pet cemetery where he is buried.
An early book written while Rags was still alive is frequently referred to, with speculation on how much is fact or fiction. He was often taken to reunions and seemed to remember the men he’d served with. He regularly wandered off, perhaps always searching for Donovan.
Despite his rough start to life and his war service, he lived a long life, dying at age 19.

*Warning: Contains Spoilers*

The beginning stated with the end. The book introduces a soldier at the time of his death and burial. It describes honors, unconditional loyalty and the praise received from the many people (and publications) that recognized his heroism while mourning him.

"This soldier of the Great War was buried wearing marks of past glory, but no uniform, because this soldier was a dog, a mutt of indefinable ancestry. "

The book emphasizes that animals have no choice when it comes to war. However, that was not true for Rags. Despite his handlers tries to keep Rags from the front lines, where it was safer, Rags refused to leave his side. He saved many lives because of this.

"It is the story of a dog rescued by a soldier who himself serves to rescue soldiers."

Rags was found, a stray, roaming the streets of Paris in 1918. From there, he became a member of the First Infantry Division. The "scruffy, taffy colored terrier of about 25 pounds, with floppy ears, fluffy arching tail and perhaps more than a dollop of poodle in his blend" became a mascot to his division, and a legend to people all over the country.

Rags was not interested in learning tricks, he was a war hero for goodness sake. However, he did let his handler, Donovan, teach him one... Donovan taught Rags to stand on his back legs and raise his paw over his eye when he saw soldiers saluting. He remembered this "trick" long after the war was over, even after his best friend died.

Perhaps one of my favorite stories of Rags happened when he got separated from Donovan during the war. He stayed with the First Division men on their journey, though. He made friends with two men that were tasked with rising up into the air in a balloon in order to map out enemy locations. After giving him some food, Rags fell asleep in the balloon's basket. The men left Rags to rest while they worked, perhaps the quietest sleep he got during the war. However, later, someone started shooting at the cables that tethered the balloon to the ground, and the men could see a German plane flying low, coming straight toward them. The men put on their parachutes and jumped, one carrying Rags under his arm. The men reported that the German plane got close enough that they could see the pilot stick his head out of the cockpit in confusion. The men saw the pilot smile and wave, then fly away, apparently not wanting to kill the men and their dog.

Rags saved those men's lives, and he saved many more throughout the war. Unlike the purebred dogs that underwent intense training to deliver messages, Rags was a stray and learned from his handler (who had no training but loved animals) on the fly, during the war. Donovan was a communications specialist, and Rags learned to run ahead of him in order to find broken wires for Donovan to fix. He also learned to successfully relay messages, something that many of even the bravest and fastest dogs could not accomplish.

Possibly most important, Rags boosted the spirits of many men surrounded by war. Rags meant something special to everyone he came into contact with. Even late in his life, Rags did not belong to any one person or family, he belonged to the American people.

"The irony is that soldier dogs make war a little more human. "

I recommend this book for any animal lover.

Disclaimer: Rags' story is very touching. May cause tears.

I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here:
I am a very liberal kitty who has friends of all species so I have no prejudice when reading books about dogs at any time. And Rags, the hero of this book, is a dog whom we should all admire.
A stray plucked off a Paris street by a Donovan, an American soldier in WWI, the two became fast and lifelong friends. They served together taking messages through the lines, saving lives and risking theirs. Despite no formal training, Rags proved to be more than capable.
Sadly the two were injured by bullets and gas late in the war. It took a lot of rule bending and compassion but they were not separated even when Donovan was shipped home. Military brass and medical staff alike all adopted Rags and admired his grit, courage and loyalty.
When Donovan succumbed to his wounds, another military family adopted him. But they knew Rags really belonged to everybody. When a book was written about him in the mid 1920's, his fame grew beyond the confines of the military. As in all things, he bore the responsibility with grace and class.
It was no surprise that he was honoured both at his death and beyond. This book is a testimonial to one dog who won the hearts of the First Division and the world. He deserves to be remembered by this loving a detailed telling of his story.
Five purrs and two paws up.

"Never forgotten!" These words, or similar ones, are often printed and spoken with regard to those who have valiantly served in our armed forces. But in reality many are forgotten, especially as time grinds on. And even more specifically if the war veteran wasn't human but an animal. Yet author Grant Hayter-Menzies has sought to be faithful to these words by recalling the story of Rags in his new 216 page hardback, "From Stray Dog to World War I Hero: The Paris Terrier Who Joined the First Division." It's a perfect book for dog lovers and World War I buffs alike.

This twelve chapter book easily recounts the feats of Rags in the final months of World War I after having been found around Paris and adopted by two Doughboys. Hayter-Menzies weeds through news stories, biographies and other accounts to piece together when Rags arrived on the scene, how he courageously and helpfully served with Sgt Donovan, and was wounded with him just before the war came to a close. The rest of the book chronicles the secretive and circuitous route Rags took to end up on U.S. soil, sought to remain by Donovan's hospital bed as he lay dying, and how his life remained adventurous until his own passing in the mid-1930s. The story has highs and lows; it is filled with life, and touches the edges of death. The author also weaves in stories of other War animals in brief re-tellings of their courageous exploits.

"From Stray Dog to World War I Hero" is an enjoyable work well worth the cost and time invested to read it. The author has made Rags' life accessible so that he will never be forgotten. I highly recommend the book, whether you're a dog lover or not!