Rags (dog)

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Rags (c. 1916-March 22, 1936, Silver Spring, Maryland) was a mixed cairn terrier, the 1st Infantry Division (United States)'s dog-mascot in World War I.

Rags was press ganged to the division about 15 July 1917 in Montmartre and remained its mascot until his death in 1931. 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 achieved 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 handler was seriously injured, dying after return to hospital in Fort Sheridan. Rags was adopted by the family of Maj Raymond W. Hardenberg there in 1920, moving with them through several transfers until in Fort Hamilton, New York, he was recognized by members of the 18th Infantry Regiment.^[1]