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

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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.

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!

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.

I am not a veteran of the Vietnam War and I was just a child when it ended. But reading John Burnams book has given me a new sense of pride,loyalty, and friendship. "Dog Tags of Courage" evokes emotions the range from happy to sad to anger. It pulls at your heart and makes you thankfull for everything you've got! I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Burnam at a book-signing in VA. Inside the cover of my book, he wrote: "May we never forget the brave German Shepard of Vietnam". And after reading his book, I never will.

This book is a great read for many reasons. The reader is given an introduction to the Vietnam War and the US Army through the eyes of a 19 year-old who has just arrived in Vietnam after basic training. His tour of duty is often humorous with moments of shock and horror mixed in. The descriptions of combat and companionship with the author's scout dog Clipper will set you on a rollar coaster ride of emotions. I guarantee portions of this book will make you cry. Kudos to John Burnam for writing such a fabulous book.

If you're a dog lover, buy this book. If you're interested in learning what it was like being a soldier in Vietnam, buy this book. If you're interested in learning what it was REALLY like being a War Dog handler, buy this book. After I saw the War Dogs documentary on the Discovery Channel a year or two ago, I got interested in Vietnam War Dogs. I finally got this book and found it hard to put down. You really feel how the author felt being in Vietnam. This is one of the best War Dog books out there. It is difficult to describe how great this book is. It's hard to know what it was like to serve in Vietnam unless you had been there. After reading this book, however, we can understand better what these men went through for our country.

I could not put it down! John Burnam captures and maintains your attention throughout the entire book. It is an exceptional contribution to the awareness by the American people that these dogs existed and the important role they played in Vietnam.

John Burnam's "Dog Tags of Courage" is a must read book! It not only chronicles his service to our country but also shows just how these dogs impacted his life and the "approximately 10,000 war dog handlers and 4,000 war dogs" that served during the Vietnam War.

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.

I've just finished reading this book and I am very impressed with the author's writing style. It is written in a clear, conscise, and understandable language. For those of you who do not know much about war dogs or the Vietnam conflict, please read this book. John Burnam presents his personal account of what it's like to be both a foot soldier as well as a dog handler in Vietnam. After reading this book, I have more respect for Vietnam veterans and a better understanding of what the average foot soldier went through in that war. The book also opened a new door for me in that I learned more about the abilities of dogs. This has increased my general interest as well as my respect for dogs. Read it!!!!