K-9 Soldiers : Vietnam and After (Memories Series) (Hellgate Memories Vietnam) [Paperback]

Paul B. Morgan (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hellgate Memories Vietnam | Publication Date: January 1999

K-9 Soldiers covers Paul Morgan's experiences with K-9 partners. He begins entering the Army in 1957 and subsequent experiences as an Airborne paratrooper in 1958 through 1959. The book covers his experiences with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and in Alaska. He trained for Special Forces operations in Vietnam in 1964 through 1965. In the 30th Ranger Batallion, he describes patrol activities where his dog played an important role in the success of the operations. He also describes other patrol actions in Tay Ninh in 1970. Later, he left the military and operated a security business utilizing patrol dogs. He describes many of the experiences he and his K-9 partners have encountered in the security business.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As a retired U.S. Army major, former Green Beret, Customs K-9 and Security Specialist, Paul Morgan weaves a series of twenty-four stories from a lifetime of working with man's best friend - the dog. This includes close combat in Vietnam as well as working behind the scenes on America's streets when a child is lost, a disaster strikes, or when some criminal tries to outrun the police.

Morgan is no stranger to readers of our Purple Heart Magazine. In 1996 his story was selected by the National Publications Committee as the best single feature story published in Purple Heart Magazine that year.

Using his dogs as the focus of his book. Morgan takes the reader through his outstanding 20 years of military service, relating humorous episodes and heroic, exploits involving his "K-9 soldiers." Clearly his favorite partner was Suzi. Her real name was Xa Xi, a Vietnamese sarsaparilla, which the German shepherd loved to drink! Suzi was given to Morgan by Father Tu, a Vietnamese village Priest, as a gift. She slept next to Morgan in the bush every night. Suzi was tied to his wrist with parachute cord. On several occasions she literally saved his life. He returned Suzi to Father Tu when he left his Ranger unit for military assignment in Saigon on in 1965.

At Fire Base Diana, in Tay Ninh Province on the Cambodian border in January of 1970. Morgan and his patrol dog, Polar Bear, were a part of a Ranger contingent. They were about to be overrun by North Vietnamese Army (NVA) troops assaulting their position after a deadly mortar attack. As night fell, the beleaguered Rangers had no defensive night vision. Flares could not be used with the gunships on missions overhead.

Polar Bear became increasingly agitated and began to bark on the lip of the defensive trench. Morgan immediately opened fire with his M-16 as other troopers blasted the inky black night with shotgun and automatic fire. As flares danced to their rear. Morgan saw what Polar Bear had alerted them to. Several NVA soldiers were sprawled dead in front of their position not 30 feet away! By midnight, the NVA had given up the attack with 42 of their dead left behind on defensive wire. Polar Bear's warning had saved the lives of those Rangers that January night!

Morgan never saw Polar Bear again. Two rounds of mortar fire seriously wounded Morgan that same night and he was med-evaced out the morning. Polar Bear was killed in action two weeks later and buried with full military honors.

These wonderful animals performed admirable civilian work as well. The author describes his experiences with the dogs' service in apprehending drug dealers and other street criminals as well. This book, written by one of our own MOPH members is a "must-read" journal of uncommon valor about man and dog alike. You will gain a new appreciation for these two-legged and four-legged heroes in the reading. -- Reviewed by Patrick O'Loughien. Member, National Publications. Purple Heart Magazine, May/June 1999

About the Author

Paul B. Morgan attended a military high school and joined the R.O.T.C. in college. He then enlisted in the Army and became an officer after five years of service. In 1965 he went to Vietnam. Upon retiring from the service at thirty-nine years of age, he organized a K-9 security business, which he ran for over twenty years.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: Hellgate Press; 3rd edition (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555714951
• ISBN-13: 978-1555714956
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 8.6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,994,398 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Soldiers, Police and Dog Lovers, May 12, 2001

By 

George R. Ruff (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: K-9 Soldiers : Vietnam and After (Memories Series) (Hellgate Memories Vietnam) (Paperback)

K9 Soldiers is a wonderful work that will appeal not just to dog lovers but to military and law enforcement personnel as well. The author walks us through some of the less well recorded incidents of the Vietnam War--the tales of heroic canines in combat. Later, he does an equally fine role of showing the important role that dogs play today in law enforcement. Dog lovers will gain a deeper appreciation of the roles that canines have played and continue to play in the military and law enforcement. Soldiers and police will enjoy the recounting of the exploits their canine partners have played over the years. A truly enjoyable reading for everyone.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is very good., September 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: K-9 Soldiers : Vietnam and After (Memories Series) (Hellgate Memories Vietnam) (Paperback)

The book was good because it made me laugh and cry. It is about time someone recognized the dogs as veterans not like pieces of equipment because they did their jobs out of loyalty and love.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential., February 26, 2002

By 

DogsInTheNews.com (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: K-9 Soldiers : Vietnam and After (Memories Series) (Hellgate Memories Vietnam) (Paperback)

It's hard to classify this book. It's not simply about dogs, and it's not simply about war. What you'll find upon reading this work is that it's a very clever weaving of themes that all happen to come together on the battlefield.

Being too young for Vietnam myself, I never had an understanding of what went on over there. K-9 Soldiers takes a theme we are all familiar with--dogs--and uses it as the foundation for showing us what the war was all about: loyalty and sacrifice and the undying spirit of determination that most civs like me never encounter in everyday life; that is, unless you study a dog closely.

Take that lesson and blend it with the uncommon relationship between a soldier and a dog; then apply it to the scenes of everyday life (Chapters 7-9); and there you have it: a masterpiece that will affect you as much as it will entertain you.

Consider "the perfect soldier". Many history books will tell you that it was General George S. Patton. Perhaps... but he would've been even better if he had six legs. (If you don't get it, read the book!)...