Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship [Hardcover]

John C. Burnam (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 305 pages
• Publisher: Lost Coast Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1882897420
• ISBN-13: 978-1882897421
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tells it like it was, October 13, 1999

By 

Robert A. Kollar (Cumberland, Rhode Island) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship (Hardcover)

They say you should never judge a book by its cover. If you did, "Dog Tags Of Courage", written by John Burnam, would get straight A's. The color cover is magnificent, featuring, prominately, a terrific looking German shepherd staring back at you.

But you have to get past that cover and begin to read the words that John has committed to paper. John puts those words together skillfully, telling the story of a man who served two tours in Vietnam, first as an infantryman in the 1st Air Cavalry Division and second as a scout dog handler in the 25th Infantry Division's 44th Infantry Platoon (Scout Dog). Along the way we meet and work with John's sentry dog, Hans, on Okinawa, and then his two scout dog partners, Timber and Clipper, in Vietnam. Some may remember the recent War Dogs video on television that featured Clipper and the mortar attack on the 44th kennels at Dau Tieng.

The veteran infantryman and the veteran scout dog handler will know the truth in what John writes; for the others, he takes you there. Good writing puts you in John's boots, seeing and experiencing what he does. I know that Vietnam was unique for every man and woman that served there; we all went down different trails, at different times and places, and had different experiences, yet I could really relate to this book and John's experiences.

John does not portray himself and his canine companions as superheroes. We are there when he or his dog screws up. He shows us that it was a normal human being on one end of that leash, with a dog, not perfect like Rin Tin or Lassie, on the other end, both doing their job to the best of their ability. And in spite of this conscientious effort to do their best, John illustrates the randomness of luck when he is seriously wounded, when jumping off the assault helicopter into tall grass. A punji stake was driven through his knee, not as lucky as the other guys in the combat assault who missed the stakes, but infinitely luckier than the one GI who was KIA by the same stakes piercing vital parts of his body.

For those of us who were handlers of canines in Vietnam, "Dog Tags Of Courage" is an exciting and uplifting journey back thirty years to a very special period in our lives. I am very glad John wrote it and that I got a chance to read it.

Thanks John.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As close to war as a civilian will get, June 19, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship (Hardcover)

This is a powerful book that describes what it was like to be a grunt on the front lines of vietnam.

It is unique as it was the first book to discuss the use of dogs to assist in sensing the enemy and their weapons.

This brings you to the front lines for a first hand look while also showing the emotions that are involved.

It gives a look at how the army really works not only in combat but the way the tail to the tooth affects those who are in harms way.

The interaction between men with each other as well as men with their dogs is very emotional. This is as close to combat as a civilian should get.

I highly recommend this book to vets, history buffs, soldier of fortune types, military buffs, and dog lovers.

The author is a certified expert in his subject and has appeared in a TV documentary, with another one scheduled, many radio and tv interviews, a national publication sponsored web chat, many in person talks, and has a movie deal signed.

The book has received excellent reviews from various publications of both dead tree press and cyber types.

If tinseltown doesn't screw around with it, this book will be a great movie. In fact, the book almost sounds like it was adapted from a script ---- a tribute to John Burnam's easy to read writing style.

Buy this book and read it!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book, March 16, 2000

By 

Diana J. Dell - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dog Tags of Courage: The Turmoil of War and the Rewards of Companionship (Hardcover)

I read Dog Tags of Courage because my brother, Kenny Dell, was a scout dog handler in Vietnam in 1968. He was killed in action on November 5. Many thanks to John Burnam for giving me a glimpse of what Kenny experienced during his tour of duty. Diana Dell, author, Memories Are Like Clouds and A Saigon Party: And Other Vietnam War Short Stories.