Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship
by John C. Burnam

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Book Reviews of Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship

Book Review: An excellent must read book!
Summary: 5 Stars

He described the different types of K-9 units used by all branches of the military. John wrote it in simple language that children could read and understand what he was saying. AND yet this book was intense at times.

John wrote that when dog handlers were wounded, killed or returned stateside that the dogs were turned over to new handlers. He explained also that the dogs were left behind when the war ended. Our government felt they were military surplus and expendable just like our men and women in uniform.

John wrote this so children could also read it and learn. One of the nice things I noticed was that he took the time to explain some of the equipment he carried or had to use while in the Army. Although you may see these things in the movies they are never really explained the way John did in his book. For example he explained what came in a box of C-rations as well as the "dark brown plastic bag full of goodies."

He wrote of his own encounters with the enemy and explained various aspects of a battle. John explained how it felt while bombs were being dropped all around his unit. "The aircraft was so close, that we could see the pilot in the cockpit." His writing made you feel like you were there with him.

After he was wounded John was sent to Okinawa where he operated forklifts and trucks until he noticed a "possible opportunity" working with sentry dogs. He was soon assigned to handle Hans. John explained their extensive training for this position. "Sentry dogs were trained that their primary functions were to guard and attack on command." And they were guarding "a stockpile of chemical warfare weapons." John wasn't completely satisfied. He had something calling him back to Vietnam.

He was headed for another infantry position but jumped at the opportunity to work with the dogs and soon was assigned to the 44th Infantry Platoon Scout Dogs. More training was in store for John. Scout "dogs alerted on things like booby traps, VC in foxholes, and even other animals." He was first paired up with Timber who was "high strung, had a mean streak, and didn't like to be disciplined." John and Timber trained on the obstacle course built for the dogs. "Dog training was all about repetition and consistency."

John learned "to keep your eyes on the dog at all times. A dog's natural instinct will tell you what he smells, sees, and hears, and when danger is near." John would have to learn to "translate his dog language into English." When he and Timber were wounded though John recovered quickly "Timber didn't respond to commands....Timber wasn't going to be ready for any missions in the near future....Although he recovered physically, he never fully recovered mentally."

John had to select another dog to work with. "I felt excited the first time I saw this dog, and he took to me as if we'd worked together before....Clipper responded to me as no other dog had." He and Clipper became a team and began training together. Clipper could alert John at least "one hundred yards" from a decoy. John could only imagine how well he would do if the enemy were out there in the bush. "Clipper was like a walking radar beam. I learned to trust him more than my rifle."

John and Clipper were soon out on patrols. Once again there was enemy contact. "Clipper raised his head and alerted up into the trees. I didn't give it a second thought, because there was too much activity all around us." Later when John saw a dead VC "hanging from the tree....I remembered that...this was the tree that Clipper had alerted on....Clipper had sensed danger in that tree and he'd been right."

John "found the scout dog business to be a never-ending learning experience." On yet another patrol Clipper gave several alerts and began a zigzagging motion. Later John would learn that he was deliberately going around tripwires and booby traps. The lieutenant that John and Clipper were leading "knelt and gave Clipper a hug and told him what a great dog he was."

As I read each and every page of this amazing book I could feel the love John had developed for his fellow soldiers and the dogs they each worked with. John knew that his time in Vietnam was coming to a close. By March of 1968 he would be going home. BUT he also knew that Clipper wouldn't be allowed to go with him. His heart began breaking when doctors told him that his knee would have to be operated on again, that he wouldn't be able to see Clipper or work with him any longer.

John's struggle to get back to Clipper became evident. "When Clipper recognized me, he went crazy....Words can't begin to describe the emotions that poured out of me for this dog. He was my best friend." Clipper "was a real American hero, but he'd never get to go home and receive the hero's welcome he deserved." Clipper and other scout dogs weren't allowed back in the US.

I've only scratched the surface of this wonderful book. You need to read it from cover to cover as I did. Be prepared to cry as you read it because it is written that well. My heart goes out to John, the dogs and all the other dog handlers that John introduced in this book. They all did an amazing job.

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