Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII [Paperback]

William Putney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 31, 2003

As a twenty-three-year-old veterinarian, William W. Putney joined the Marine Corps at the height of World War II. He commanded the Third Dog Platoon during the battle for Guam and later served as chief veterinarian and commanding officer of the War Dog Training School, where he helped train former pets for war in the Pacific. After the war, he fought successfully to have USMC war dogs returned to their civilian owners.

Always Faithful is Putney’s celebration of the four-legged soldiers that he both commanded and followed. It is a tale of immense courage as well as of incredible sacrifice. For anyone who has ever read Old Yeller or the books of Jack London, here is a real-life story that rivals any fiction. At once a wistful tribute and a stirring adventure, Always Faithful will enthrall readers with one of the great animal stories of all time.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A retired Marine Corps captain and veterinarian, Putney writes a moving and heartrending account of his days as commander of the 3rd Marine War Dog Platoon, in which some 72 dogs and their handlers were his responsibility. The dogs and handlers trained in scouting, mine detection, and other patrol duties and went into combat together. Here we read about Peppy, Big Boy, and Lady and a host of other courageous dogs who lived and died during some of the worst fighting of the war. Putney takes the reader through basic training and the battles of Guadalcanal and the retaking of the island of Guam in 1944. He continues the story of how those dogs that survived the war were retrained and returned to civilian life. For veterans and dog owners, the stories of heroism and death may be dreadful, but they are a reminder of the sacrifices needed to obtain victory in World War II. A unique animal and war story, this memoir is a tribute to all who cherish the loyalty and bonds that dogs give their owners. Recommended for all public libraries. David Alperstein, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Retired veterinarian Putney is also a decorated World War II veteran whose primary service was helping organize the Marine War Dog Corps, which trained nearly a thousand dogs, mostly Doberman pinschers, as scouts, messengers, and alarm givers. Many of the dogs saw combat, especially on Guam, where then captain Putney won a Purple Heart and Silver Star fighting the Japanese, with and without dogs. More than 500 canine survivors were successfully demilitarized and returned to civilian life, and more than half of those became companions of the marines they had accompanied in battle--results that Putney counts as one of his finest achievements. An exceptionally clear writer, Putney is compassionate for his fellow marines of both species, except when some of them proved more dangerous to the dog platoons than the Japanese were. A valuable addition to the historiography of military animals, World War II, and the marines. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Potomac Books Inc. (October 31, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157488719X
• ISBN-13: 978-1574887198
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #151,594 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just a man and his dog story, October 27, 2001

By 

"jackiesdog" (Sonora, Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII (Hardcover)

I was on Guam in 1994 during the 50th anniversary of Guam's liberation. Dr. Putney came for the occasion, and for the dedication of the War Dog Memorial. Dr. Putney was instrumental in making the beautiful memorial site, with sculptor Susan Bahary Wilner's "Always Faithful" statue of dog Kurt, a reality. There are web pages about the memorial, which is not actually located at the dog gravesite but at the Navy base for safekeeping. Dr. Putney has done all of us a great service by so realistically telling how valuable dogs have been to our liberty. He speaks from a heart that has been dedicated to those dogs for over 50 years. Thank you, Dr. Putney.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Always Faithful- A delighful journey!, April 27, 2001

By 

David W. Campbell (FPO, AE United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII (Hardcover)

I enjoyed the book because of the amazing details that accompany each episode of the book from the training at Camp Lejeune to the battles at Guam. What really jumps out for the reader is the challenges to train the dogs and the critical role they played in WWII. The war scenes on Guam are realistic and the deaths of the dogs touch the reader's heart. Yet there are triumphs of the spirit as the dog's prove themselves over and over again. There are several humorous scenes that occur during training and at other times in the book that provide a laugh including the several scenes at Camp Pendleton. You find yourself lost in Dr Putney's journey that leaves one turning the pages to "see what happens next!" Truely a vital testament to the Marine War Dogs of WWII and those who pay them tribute! Bravo Zulu! A great read!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars WHY CAN'T A SUCCESSFUL ACTIVITY BE CONTINUED?, September 29, 2001

By 

Brady L. Buchanan (Henderson, Nevada United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Always Faithful: A Memoir of the Marine Dogs of WWII (Hardcover)

A pretty crummy title for a very good book...but a there is a reason for it. This is a complete story of the beginning, the middle(WW II), and the end of a project that took a long time to get started and was so successful...so compelling so... that it was permanently disbanded after WW II. This is the story of the relationship of a dog to its master as applied during time of war and how thousands of lives were saved because of the talents of the dogs and their trainers and masters.

To quote from the book, "By 1946 military brass had decided to stop recruiting dogs from the civilian population....The war dog program fell into chaos and the Quartermaster Corps declared that it was discontinuing forever the K-9 Corps." This points out the absolute stupidity of "authority." If you read this book you will be uplifted with a loving emotion and learn why dogs are so effective in war and then discover the total stupidity of those bound to stop such an effective program. It is beyond human comprehension. You will enjoy this book!