Wow, there's really interesting stuff associated with Bulldogs!!

The U.S. Marine Corps Mascot is . . . yep, you guessed it, a Bulldog!! But Why?

During World War I many German reports referred to the attacking Marines as "teufel-hunden" meaning devil dogs. Devil Dogs were the vicious, wild, and ferocious mountain dogs of Bavarian folklore, hence the association with our Marines. Soon afterward a Marine recruiting poster depicted a snarling Bulldog wearing a Marine Corps helmet. Because of the tenacity and demeanor of the breed, and the patriotism of the moment, the image took root with both the marines and the public. The Marines soon unofficially adopted the Bulldog as their mascot.

The Marine base at Quantico, VA is credited with obtaining the first of the line of Bulldog mascots. That dog was a "blue blood" registered English Bulldog named King Bulwark. The "King" was soon stripped of his title and on October 14, 1922, Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler signed documents enlisting him for the "term of life" as Pvt. Jiggs.

A hard charging Marine, Pvt. Jiggs did not remain a private for long. Within three months he was wearing corporal chevrons on his custom made uniform. Quickly, on New Years Day 1024, Jiggs was promoted to Sergeant. Finally, in a meteoric rise just seven months later, he was promoted to Sergeant Major.

Sergeant Major Jiggs died on January 9, 1927, and was mourned throughout the Corps. He was interred with full military honors after lieing in state in a satin-lined coffin at Quantico, surrounded by flowers from hundreds of Corps admirers.

Jiggs popularity made a replacement necessary. Former heavyweight boxing champion, Gene Tunney, who had fought with the Marines in France, donated his Bulldog. He was renamed Jiggs II, and stepped into the role of his predecessor. However, there was one big problem, No Discipline. Jiggs II chased people, bit people, and exhibited a total lack of respect for authority. He would've made an outstanding combat marine, but barracks life did not suit him. During one of his rampages, he died of heat exhaustion in 1928.

During the 1930's, 40's and the early 50's all of the successors were named Smedley in honor of BGen. Butler. In the late 50's the oldest post in the Corps, the Marine Barracks in Washington, became the new home for the Corps' mascot. His new name became Chesty in honor of the legendary LtGen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller Jr. Chesty made his first, formal public appearance at the Evening Parade on July 5, 1957. In his canine dress blues, Chesty was a smash hit.

Chesty's replacement was named, you guessed it, Chesty II. Chesty II was a renegade. You name it, he did it. He even escaped and went AWOL once, returned two days later in a police paddy wagon. In fact, the only thing he ever managed to do correctly was to sire a replacement.

In contrast to his father, Chesty III proved to be a model marine. He even became a favorite of neighborhood children, for which he was awarded a Good Conduct Medal. He and the Bulldogs who have followed him epitomize the fighting spirit of the U.S. Marines. Tough, muscular, aggressive, tenacious, fearless, and confident, they are the ultimate canine symbol of a warrior, they symbolize the ethos of the Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines.

Marion F. Sturkey, Warrior Culture of the U.S. Marines, (Heritage Press Intl., 2001 & 2003).

It is said that Chesty, as the Marine Corps mascot, became official in 1983, when a uniform logo was approved. That process really began in 1979 when Diann Wall-Wilson recognized that the Corps had never "officially" adopted a bulldog mascot. She recognized that each are of the Marine corps used a different version of bulldogs on decals, T-shirts and tattoos. Ms. Wilson, with the assistance of a local artist and imput from various enlisted United States Marines, designed a logo that would be appealing to the Marines. Incorporating the Eagle, Glove and Anchor with the design, she applied for approval with the Dept. of the Navy, Headquarters United States Marine Corps. After inspecting the design, on January 25, 1983 it was determined that the logo adequately conformed to the Dept. of Navy's specifications and was approved. The copyright for the design was submitted and approved on February 3, 1983. See, History of the Creation of the Mascot Bulldog Design, www.usmcbulldog.com/bulldog.html

Bulldogs can in fact fly . . . Really?

Don't worry, I'll look up some more and get them on here.