Mascots In The Marine Corps!

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Although the United States Marine Corps has no official mascots, the English bulldog has become representative of the Corps in the eyes os the public. The beginning of the bulldog image probably dates from the First World War when German soldiers are alledged to have referred to American Marines as "Devil Dogs," comparing them to the fierce, wild mountain dogs of Bavarian folk lore. The name was adopted by American correspondents, and newspapers accounts of the Battle of Belleau Wood frequently referred to the Marines as "Devil Dogs." A Marine recruiting poster of the time depicts a dachshound attired in spiked helpmet and Iron Cross, fleeing, tail between legs, from an Engligh bulldog wearing a helmet with the insignia of the globe and anchor.

The English bulldog appealed to both the public and the Marines as representatives of the Corps and the sentiment has been preserved by the succession of the unofficial mascots at Quantico, Jiggs I through Jiggs VI. The ancestry of Jiggs I was distinguised. He was sired by the once-famous Rob Roy, and whelped in Philadelphia on 22 May 1921. His registered name was King Bulwark. Jiggs I was "enlisted" in the Marine Corps for the "Term of life" at Quantico, Virginia, on 14 October 1922, and his papers were filled out and signed by Brigadier General Smedley D. Butler, then Commanding General of the Marine Barracks at Quantico. His "service record" describes him as having "Dark brown eyes, White hair, Pink complexion; height 18 inches, weight 52 pounds, mean circumference 8 inches, expansion 8 inches, vision (shellen) right 20, left 20. Indeligible or permanent marks upon his person: Two black spots above right eye; Dark spot on each ear; one black spot alongside left eyes; screw tail and bowed legs."

Promotion for Jiggs I was rapid. In two and a half months he was wearing corporal chevrons. He became a sergeant on New Years Day 1924, and on 17 July of the same year he was promoted to sergeant major. Although his career was interrupted on several occasions by courts-martial for breaches of military etiquette and deportment, he quickly regained his rank and carried on with no evident damage to his ego. He spent his short, pampered and over-fed life in a glow of publicity and even shared movie stardom with Lon Chaney in the 1926 Hollywood produciton of "Tell It To The Marines."

Jiggs I's death on 9 January 1927 was mourned throughout the Corps. His white satin-linded coffin was constructed from the material of his former kennel and he lay in state in a hangar at Quantico, under banks of flowers from his many friends. He was denied only the official recognition of a military funeral.

Following Jiggs I's death, former heavyweight boxing champion James J. (Gene) Tunney, who had served with the Marines in France, continued the tradition by donating English bulldog Jiggs II to the Marine at Quantico. At the same time, the Royal Marines of Great Britain donated an English bulldog named Pagett, who was said to have been one of the top 20 English bulldogs in Great Britain at the time. Pagett traveled with the Marine baseball team, but had an early reputation of disciplinary infractions, such as "Chasing a blonde stenographer down the hall," and "biting the hand that fed him," before succumbing to heat exhaustion in 1928.

Since the death of Jiggs I, English bulldogs have pre-dominated as mascots at Marine Corps Schools, Quantico and at the Marine Barracks at 8th and I in Washington, DC. However, other animals have also achieved prominence as Marine mascots, including "Old Gimlet Eye," the eagle; "Siwash," the duck; and "Reckless," the little Korean pony.

None, however, was correctly termed "Official" in the technical sense but all have been an essential part of Marine "esprit de corps."

"Brief Reference - Mascots in the Marine Corps by Nickey McLain" - Historical Branch, G-3 Division, HQMC, 18 November 1964

Received from the Reference Section, Marine Corps Historical Center, Washington, DC, 13 September 1997