This Day in History: 1946-08-05

A mystery dog arrived in Ramsey from Okinawa. It arrived addressed to the Leslie family of South Central Avenue and came from a Lt. Jacob Leeder, unknown to the Leslies. Mrs. Leslie assumed it must have something to do with her brother who had just arrived in San Francisco. The canine mystery of “Stubby”, a mixed breed, reported to be very long in body and short of leg, but very friendly and loyal, was cleared up when Captain James S. Allen arrived at his sister’s home. “Stubby” had been the mascot of Allen’s Signal Corps outfit in Hawaii. He was left behind when the unit went to Leyte, in the Philippines, but showed up there mysteriously two months later. The unit took him with them when they went to Okinawa. Lt. Leeder had been very attached to the dog and arranged to have him shipped home when he shipped on. He feared that the Okinawans, known for their taste for roast dog, might have made a meal of the pet. Since he was, like many others at the time, house hunting, he had it shipped to his friend’s sister’s home in Ramsey for safekeeping. Dr. Thomas Lynch, the local veterinarian, pronounced the friendly mutt in excellent health. (Bristow)