MCRD Graduates New Mascot, Smedley the Bulldog

The Marine Corps’ most recent graduate is a bit shorter than the other Marines.

And a little furrier. But he’s most certainly the cutest.

Smedley Butler, San Diego’s Marine Corps Recruit Depot’s mascot, graduated on Friday from recruit training. He now assumes the mascot duties from Cpl. Belleau Wood, who retired in April to a loving family in Temecula.

The English bulldog, born in San Diego in February, is the latest in a long MCRD tradition of English bulldog mascots. The first mascot was James Jolly Plum Duff, who was recruited in 1939.

He is named after Maj. Gen. Smedley Butler, who at the time of his death was the most decorated Marine in Marine Corps history.

So what does a MCRD mascot do? He’ll participate in events, such as family day, motivational runs, graduation ceremonies and recruiting events.

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