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Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog Hardcover – December 13, 2011

by Mike Dowling (Author), Damien Lewis (Contributor)

291 customer reviews

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The Hurt Locker meets Marley & Me in this thrilling and inspiring true story of a U.S. Marine and his German Shepherd Rex, a bomb-sniffing dog on the war-torn streets of Iraq’s most dangerous city.

“In Iraq we put our lives in each other’s hands (and paws) day after day. We took care of each other no matter what. Rex and I have a bond that will last for the rest of our born days. If ever there was a marine who lived up to Semper Fidelis, the motto of the Marine Corps, it’s Rex.”

Deployed to Iraq’s infamous Triangle of Death in 2004, Sergeant Mike Dowling and his military working dog Rex were part of the first Marine Corps military K9 teams sent to the front lines of combat since Vietnam. It was Rex’s job to sniff out weapons caches, suicide bombers, and IEDs, the devastating explosives that wreaked havoc on troops and civilians alike. It was Mike’s job to lead Rex into the heart of danger time and time again, always trusting Rex to bring them both back alive.

Dowling had turned twenty-five and Rex three just after they arrived in Iraq. Neither of them had any idea what to expect, and no training could fully prepare them for this job. An animal lover since childhood, Dowling had fostered and trained dogs for Guide Dogs for the Blind, and he was determined to serve in the military’s K9 unit after joining the Marines. On their first patrols in Iraq, Rex suffered a seemingly incurable fear of explosions and gunfire, but with Mike at the other end of his leash, Rex gained the courage to perform his duty.

Filled with harrowing tales of knife-edge bomb-detection work, including an extraordinary baptism by fire, Sergeant Rex is a heart-pounding account of how an unbreakable human-canine bond helped Mike and Rex to stay focused on their mission and save countless lives. Dowling takes us into the searing 130-degree heat, the choking dust, and the ever-present threat of violent attack that seemed to permeate Iraq’s streets. We experience Dowling’s visceral fear of walking down an IED-laden alley where dismemberment or death can come with any footstep, only his trusted partner, Rex, by his side.

Loyalty is one of the hallmarks of any good Marine, and nowhere is that quality more evident than in this astonishing account of Mike Dowling and Rex’s wartime experiences. A moving story of how a man and a dog developed complete trust in each other in the face of terrible adversity, Sergeant Rex is an unforgettable tale of sacrifice, courage, and love.

Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The best kind of nonfiction -- an impossible-to-put-down true life story."
--San Francisco Chronicle

“Briskly written. . . a moving portrait of a relationship between battle buddies that transcends gender and species.”
-- Washington Post

“This is a truly heartwarming and moving story.” —Hollywood Reporter

“Packed with colorful characters and dramatic incidents, Sergeant Rex is a moving story of true grit cast seamlessly amidst tough realism, rich, insightful detail and mutual respect.” —Seattle Kennel Club

“A first-rate buddy story from the front lines of the Iraq war.”
--Shelf Awareness

About the Author

Mike Dowling enlisted with the U.S. Marine Corps in 2001. He was awarded the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his Iraq operations with his dog, Rex. He is currently serving with a Marine Corps rehabilitation unit in Los Angeles.
Damien Lewis has reported from war and conflict zones and aid and conservation projects for twenty years for the BBC, CNN, and many other news organizations. He is the author of a number of books on elite military operations and coauthor of several acclaimed memoirs.

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Product details

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Atria Books; 1St Edition edition (December 13, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1451635966
ISBN-13: 978-1451635966
Product Dimensions: 6 x 1.1 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
Average Customer Review: 291 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #154,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #103 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Leaders & Notable People > Military > Afghan & Iraq Wars > Iraq War
- #269 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Dogs > Breeds
- #6050 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Memoirs

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Top customer reviews

A man and his dog against the evils of this world

ByEricon September 21, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I finished "Sergeant Rex" by Mike Dowling tonight and found it to be one of the most intriguing and heartwarming books I have ever read so far. One that was emotionally gripping and made me grateful to our armed forces who have protected and served our country.

The story of the author and his military working dog, Rex as they deploy to the Iraq War back in 2004 to operate as the first K9 team to go to war since the Vietnam War. Together, as their bond strengthens, they go on missions to sniff out and obliterate weapons of mass destruction the Iraqi insurgents have stashed away, all the while protecting not only American lives in Iraq, but also Iraqi civilian lives. There are plenty of suspenseful moments throughout the book, but also of sheet joy and victory that will have you glued to the pages. I finished this book in record time. In under a month. Usually it takes me a while to finish a book, depending on how long it is or how dedicated I am to the material within. But this book had me spellbound from start to end. You know a book is good when you bother to read the acknowledgements at the end. The mood of the book is a somber and heroic read. There is no over-mushiness and the author throws in enough of his own backstory to fill you in on how he and Rex met, but doesn't go overboard with his narrative. He makes this all about him and his MWD (military working dog) and the casualties and atrocities of war, as well as the good that he and his dog were doing in Iraq, and that regardless of what's going on around them, there is a silver lining there somewhere.

Please add this book to your literary collection, especially if you're an animal lover or have served our armed forces. You will love the story of the bond that can only be had between a man and his dog.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Sergeant Rex: The Unbreakable Bond Between a Marine and His Military Working Dog

ByAnnie in Tennesseeon January 6, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Recently, we adopted a retired military working dog named MWD Fama H176. She is nine years old this month. She served two tours in Iraq. This wonderful book gives us an idea of what she must have gone through. Thankfully, she seems to have adjusted to civilian life without PTSD! Thank you, Mike Dowling, for giving us your story.

33 comments 22 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Full of excitement, adventure and the unknown!

ByG. Martinon November 24, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Wow, what a wonderful story! Mike Dowling's story of his special bond with his Military Working Dog Rex is full of excitement, wonderment as well as love.
The poem at the front pages of the book sets the scene for what you are about to read. There is marked anticipation for what to expect when you turn to the next page; IED, RPG, a pack of angry village dogs or the breaking of the trail for Military Working Dogs USMC protocol.
I was at Lackland AFB in the 60's and worked at the Sentry Dog Kennel while awaiting Air Police Tech. School. Several times I witnessed a handler who was being discharged after his enlistment, spend days and nights with his dog before their heart breaking departure. More often I saw the Handler re-enlist rather than leave his best friend.
Mike, you and Rex are special Marines! Thank you for your service securing the freedom that I can continue to enjoy with my family and my best friend, my Lab "Colby" I wish the best for Megan and Rex in their retirement.
Semper Fidelis

0Comment 4 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

K9 School Classmate

ByK9 Gerenon January 5, 2012

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

I went to K9 School with Dowling and got to see first hand the potential that he had right from the start. It has been an honor to know him and continue our reminising of the days that have passed. Thank you for spreading the word to let those in on the bond we handlers have with our dogs. K9 for Life!

0Comment 22 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Very enlightening.

ByJohnon August 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Sergeant Rex was a slow start for me because of Dowling's writing style--a bit jumpy. He frequently began a paragraph focused on one topic and then switched to another, and then to a third topic that didn't appear to have any clear relationship to either of the other two topics of that paragraph. And often the auther would begin a new paragraph that had no relationship to the previous paragraph, no segue. That said, the account Dowling laid out of what he and Rex did in Iraq fascinated me. Sergeant Rex kept me up to 2 AM several times.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

Sgt Rex, a true hero.

ByBruce Vaughan DC, FICCon May 2, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

To have the trust and friendship of a dog is one of the greatest privileges one can have. Rex, the star of this book, is a true hero who was never asked whether he wanted to be one or not. I salute him.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

Remarkable Read

ByKindle Customeron June 20, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

To know a fraction of what our military men and women who serve for us and our country go through is humbling. Being allowed to follow one man and his dog's journey was amazing. This book is a must read. I loved it. It brought out every emotion I have in me. I have the utmost respect for our military and veterans always. This book instills even more if that was even possible.

0CommentWas this review helpful to you?YesNo

A Jane Austen fan loved this book

ByDigbyon August 3, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

So I'm a middle-aged woman whose typical reading is Jane Austen, T. R. Pearson and John McPhee - never been in the military, and don't read many military-related books (the only other one I can recall reading is "Black Hawk Down," which I also loved). As I type this, my German shepherd (definitely a non-working dog) is lying at my feet. I absolutely bought the book because of the great cover photo of Sergeant Rex, after ascertaining that Rex was still alive at the end of the book.

I thought the book was very well-written - but I didn't have huge expectations going in, since I knew nothing about the authors. I didn't mind the switches from personal to military, from past to present - but maybe that's because I've read a fair amount of fiction that does that kind of jumping around. I agree with another reviewer that it would have been great to learn more about Rex's life in the military post-Mike, especially the incident in which Rex and his handler were injured, but I suppose that wasn't Mr. Dowling's story to tell.

If you love German shepherds, if you marvel at the things they can do, if you want a glimpse into a career you can't even imagine, then you'll probably enjoy this book. If you're looking for perfect prose, hope for John McPhee to write a book about military working dogs - that would be something! Now, I've got to go rub a puppy tummy.

0Comment 2 people found this helpful. Was this review helpful to you?YesNo

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Most recent customer reviews

Excellent story of a man and his dog who worked ...

Excellent story of a man and his dog who worked so hard for our country. His giving up the dog at retirement to some one else was so overwhelming to me. Not sure I could do that.Read more

Published 9 days ago by Kindle Customer

Five Stars

Hard to put down great nook

Published 11 days ago by Mary gagliardi

Five Stars

A very important working dog.

Published 14 days ago by Kindle Customer

Heart-touching

A heart-touching story of a dog helping soldiers survive in a dangerous environment.

Published 23 days ago by Hon. William L. Blackwell

Five Stars

Great Book.

Published 27 days ago by Amazon Customer

Five Stars

GOOD READ

Published 27 days ago by PETER MARMORATO

Fantastic read

I picked up Sargeant Rex expecting it to me a story about one man and his dog. About friendship and loyalty and the occasional heart wrenchin moment.Read more

Published 1 month ago by Jack Brown

Grind on

It's amazing how an animal in a combat environment helps all the Marines mental health.

Published 1 month ago by Kevin

Five Stars

Great story.

Published 1 month ago by JL

Hero Dog

I love this book.

Published 1 month ago by MJF

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