Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!)...

I don't often re-read a book in the same decade, but after recently re-reading K-9 Sodiers, Vietnam and After, I learned over the "NET", that Suzie's story is to be aired on Discovery Channel early next year. I think this is SUPER, giving our four-footed heroes some much deserved recognition. ... For readers who haven't read K-9 Soldiers, you really should. It's the kind of book you won't put down until you have reached the back cover. ... For those of us, who have read it, I heartly recommend Paul Morgan's barely fictionalized account of behind the lines action around the Cambodian border, entitled "The Parrot's Beak". This is another slam 'em, bam 'em, damned good read. You can taste the smoke of battle and feel the humidity and tension ... go now ... read "K-9 Soldiers", read "The Parrot's Beak" ... Look for Suzie's story, it's to be featured on Animal X, Discovery Channel in 2001 .... AND K-9 officers attention ... "K-9 Soldier's" is a must read for you, I understand some K-9 units consider it to be one of their manuals!

We are, all of us, veterans or civilians alike, aware of the tragic proportions of the Vietnam conflict. However, even many veterans are unaware of the crucial role played by the heroic K-9s. These four-footed soldiers were responsible for saving many lives in the steaming jungles and the fetid rice paddies of Vietnam.
Maj. Paul Morgan's book, K-9 Soldiers, Vietnam and After, illustrates with striking clarity the bravery, skill and boundless heart displayed time and time again by the faithful K-9s of Vietnam.
As a Vietnam veteran I never had the opportunity to work with a K-9 unit but Mr. Morgan's book impressed me with its stirring first person accounts of the true-life actions of these courageous dogs and their handlers. Mr. Morgan's book formed the basis for a widely acclaimed TV movie that is also heart wrenching in its depiction of the K-9 units' daily struggles. Any reader with an interest in history and certainly any animal lovers will be captivated by these accounts.
As a combat Marine infantryman I can attest that this chronicle rings true. Mr. Morgan has been there and back and has rendered these stories with an experienced eye and ear.
Mr. Morgan is the founder of the effort to create a war dog memorial in his home town of Suffolk County, New York. His efforts have suceeded with a projected unveiling of the memorial within the next year.
Mr. Morgan has been honored numerous times for his heroic work at the WTC on September12, 2001 along with his Search and Rescue dog Cody Bear. Mr. Morgan has been a life-long dog handler and his rich experience informs the reader on each page of this gripping work

Paul Morgan's book K-9 Soldiers: Vietnam and After is a story of Paul's military life from beginning to end and the intense training this soldier endured to become a U.S. Army Green Beret with two tours in Vietnam. There are stories about Suzie his faithful German Shepherd that saved him and his buddies more than once in the jungles and rice fields of Southeast Asia. After the military he started his own K-9 security business. The many stories that he tells about his K-9 companion's will bring tears to your eyes and make you smile.

Jim Hart 12th SPS K-9 PhuCat 1970-1971 USAF

K-9 SOLDIERS Vietnam and After by Paul B. Morgan is a genuine story of a man and his best friend(s), in war and peace. This is a hard book to put down, until you have turned it's last page. The mutual love and devoted service of man's animal friend comes across in the tales of war in Vietnam and combatting crime on the city streets in peacetme. Along the way, we get the precious vision on how a young man matures through his military career, and in his post-service occupation as a dog handler. Paul Morgan is a natural story teller, and his personal accounts, with his K-9 soldiers, is an enjoyable and touching read. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in Vietnam, veterans, and service dogs

I heard that, Paul has a new book coming out soon, entitled "Parrot's Beak". I'm looking forward to reading it.

Larry Healey 484 BWH, SAC USAF 1964-1966

Excellent piece of historical work. Insight into Paul's time in the military with his K-9's. And revealing insight into the professional, independent security K-9 world. My inclusion in the book not withstanding.
Am looking forward to reading Paul's other work The Parrot's Beak about his inclusion in operations in Cambodia during the Vietnam conflict. I hope that he continues to tell of his experiences both during his military service and during the 20 years he owned his security K-9 service in Lexington KY.
He is an excellent orator in person, and now he is also a great writer. Keep it up Paul.

Paul Morgan was my Company Commander and I was his Executive Officer in B Company, 716th MP Battalion. Paul was one of the best MP officers I had the pleasure of serving with. Quiet but serious, when he spoke we listened, and he always had something important to say. Today he writes the same way that he spoke then, always interesting and always sincere.
What he didn't write about in his book, is that when the Victoria Hotel was bombed, there was a deep crater left in front of the entrance to the hotel which filled with water. He was so involvement with the rescue mission, he did not notice the depth of the crater and attempted to walk through the water toward the building. In the meantime I had gotten my camera and was taking pictures of the damage. I heard the splash and looked to see Captain Morgan sink to the bottom and then come out of the hole holding his cap up high, the only dry thing on him. He ordered me not to take his picture. I wished I had disobeyed that order, it would look great in his next book.

Paul Morgan was my Company Commander and I was his Executive Officer in B Company, 716th MP Battalion. Paul was one of the best MP officers I had the pleasure of serving with. Quiet but serious, when he spoke we listened, and he always had something important to say. Today he writes the same way that he spoke then, always interesting and always sincere.
What he didn't write about in his book, is that when the Victoria Hotel was bombed, there was a deep crater left in front of the entrance to the hotel which filled with water. He was so involvement with the rescue mission, he did not notice the depth of the crater and attempted to walk through the water toward the building. In the meantime I had gotten my camera and was taking pictures of the damage. I heard the splash and looked to see Captain Morgan sink to the bottom and then come out of the hole holding his cap up high, the only dry thing on him. He ordered me not to take his picture. I wished I had disobeyed that order, it would look great in his next book.