Here's a list and short descriptions of some great books featuring true accounts of war dogs and other brave, heroic K-9s.
All are available at Amazon.com.
Yorkie Doodle Dandy: Or, the Other Woman Was a Real Dog Smoky, a tiny Yorkshire Terrier, became a war dog and a true heroine at a Luzon airfield when she pulled a string, attached to vital phone wires, through a 70 foot long - 8 inch diameter pipe. With her master calling her from the opposite end of the pipe, Smoky completed her journey beneath the airfield taxi strip in two minutes. Without Smoky, it would have taken the troops at least 3 days to dig up, lay wires and replace the strip, putting 40 US fighter and recon planes in peril of destruction by enemy bombings. Yorkie Doodle Dandy is a wonderful, heartwarming, true story about a tiny canine war hero, told as only the amazing soldier who trained and loved her could. Read my full review HERE. |
Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII Twenty-three-year-old Bill Putney enlisted in the Marines dreaming of military glory. But instead, Putney, a licensed veterinarian, was relegated to the Dog Corps. As Commanding Officer of the 3rd Marine War Dog Platoon, he trained Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers to scout, attack, carry messages, detect mines, and serve as sentries. Putney's dogs could sniff out mines buried for weeks deep beneath the ground, and locate enemy tripwires by listening to them "sing" in the breeze. The dogs' record was remarkable: they led over 550 patrols safely through the dense jungle. But for this incredible success, the dogs, always out in front, paid a terrible price. Putney worked feverishly in his capacity as veterinarian and C. O. to keep the dogs alive. Nevertheless, many died so that the men they led could live. Always Faithful is dedicated to the dogs... Kurt, Lady, Peppy, Big Boy, and others ... with whom Putney served. It is a powerful tribute to the bond between the marines and their dogs, and to the bravery and loyalty of dogs everywhere. |
War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism This book features military dogs from World War I to Desert Storm. It provides an eye-opening look at unsung canine heroes. Terriers, shepherds, beagles, collies, huskies, and Dobermans are just a few of the breeds that have pulled sleds, searched caves and bunkers, and even parachuted into combat. The author has collected true stories and photos that reflect the strong bonds that have formed between the dogs and their masters as they worked together in dangerous situations. It's a pays tribute to contribution these dogs have made to U. S. security. Anyone who has ever loved a dog will love this salute to these four-legged heroes. |
None Came Home: The War Dogs of Vietnam This wonderful book covers a young American soldier's experiences with his four-legged partner. The book covers his experiences in the K-9 Corps with King, a 13 month old German Shepherd he was paired with in the Vietnam war. It's a story of the their devotion and the intense bond that develops between them as they fight to survive the dangers of war in the jungle though oppresive heat and the deluge of the monsoon season. It's also a sad account of the final days of the war and the fate of the faithful war dogs. |
Dog Tags of Courage: Combat Infantrymen And War Dog Heroes in Vietnam This is a captivating book about military dogs and their handlers in the Vietnam War. The compelling stories emphasize the special relationship of the handlers with their K-9 partners and the important role they played together. Sadly, the dogs were abandoned and left behind by the US when the war ended. This book is a moving tribute to the special heroes who should never be forgotten. |
Dog Heroes: Saving Lives and Protecting America This book features stories of heroic dogs and their handlers accompanied by dramatic photographs. It celebrates the stories of brave dogs and their handlers and highlights their capabilities with dramatic photographs. In addition to moving real-life accounts, the author writes about the history of canine search and rescue and includes detailed information on getting started in canine search and rescue. |
The Pawprints of History: Dogs and the Course of Human Events This book features captivating stories of how dogs have influenced the actions, decisions, and fates of well-known figures throughout history. See how Florence Nightingale's chance encounter with a wounded dog changed her life by leading her to the vocation of nursing. Learn why Dr. Freud's Chow Chow attended all of his therapy sessions and how the life of the Fifth Dalai Lama was saved by a dog who shared his bed. Read about dogs in the the battlefield with great military leaders such as Robert the Bruce and Omar Bradley and about dogs that inspired and lived with Presidents Lincoln, Roosevelt, Johnson, and Clinton. This is a must read for those who believe that behind every great person is a good dog! |
Dog Heroes of September 11th: A Tribute to America's Search and Rescue Dogs This book is a compelling tribute to the search and rescue dogs used at the site of the World Trade Center and at the Pentagon after September 11, 2001. It features touching photos and inspriring stories and describes how the dogs were a comfort to the firefighters and rescue workers. It also includes information about dog search and rescue and FEMA certification. |
From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire. What they find however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge, but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city’s population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava and Lava’s rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war. From hardened Marines to war-time journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee. |
Dog Heroes Poster Book Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and dog heroes are every bit as varied. From gentle therapy dogs visiting hospitalized children and the elderly, to fearless search-and-rescue dogs putting in long hours at disaster sites, dog heroes hold a special place in the hearts of animal lovers. Courageous, faithful, and hardworking, they want only to do their jobs and please their people. Every kind of canine hero is featured here on 30 full-color, pull-out posters. The back of each poster tells the story of the extraordinary dog captured in an act of heroism. Kids will love to read about the dignity and perseverance these animals bring to every assignment. |
