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Military

Bulldog Puppy PFC Smedley Butler Becomes A Marine

PFC Smedley Butler at Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony, Camp Pendleton, Sept. 11, 2014
Gretel C. Kovach
PFC Smedley Butler at Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony, Camp Pendleton, Sept. 11, 2014

He might have been the youngest and smallest Marine at the Eagle, Globe and Anchor ceremony at Camp Pendleton Thursday morning, but he certainly attracted the most attention.

Private First Class Smedley Butler, a 6-month-old English Bulldog, donned a camouflage utility uniform for the big event, which symbolizes the first time a recruit is called a Marine.

There are only three official Marine Corps mascots, and Smedley is now one of them. The other two are Legend, the MCRD Parris Island mascot, and the big dog of the group: Chesty XIV, who serves as Marine Barracks Washington's mascot.

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As Home Post reported back in June, the Escondido-born Smedley was trained to become Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego's mascot.

Stars and Stripes outlined his duties:

Smedley will perform at weekly graduation ceremonies and also attend recruiting and community relations events like Padres and Chargers games and adopt-a-school events.

Congratulations, PFC Smedley!