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Dog Tags of Courage: Combat Infantrymen And War Dog Heroes in Vietnam
This is the remarkable, little-known story of 4,000 superbly trained German shepherds and their human handlers, whose combined efforts saved countless lives in the Vietnam War. It is an authentic account, seen through the eyes of a teenage American combat infantryman who served two tours of duty as a scout-dog handler. John Burnam explores the almost mystical bond that developed between 10,000 valorous young soldiers and their extraordinary canine teammates. Burnam compassionately portrays scenes of battle and conveys the overwhelming emotions of the men who, at war's end, were forced to abandon thousands of these greathearted animals to whatever fate might befall them.
338 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
37 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 3, 2024
Viet Nam is one of those wars we want to forget happened, where we sacrificed so much blood (human & dog) and treasure and then just give up the country and it's people to the enemy. You would have thought we had learned our lesson and yet did the same thing with Afghanistan. Above all the discussion about being in the war in the first place though, the people who fought those wars deserve our respect.
Dog Tags of Courage is a well told story from a combat infantrymen and dog handler who was there. If you have read other books or seen movies of Viet Nam this book shows similar elements so I will focus on the dog aspects.
The author goes from being an infantrymen, to being a sentry dog handler, to being a scout dog handler. There are enough elements of training dogs to satisfy me. There is enough 'action' in the book to satisfy us as we also pray we never have to send our youth to be sacrificed again.
In the end of the book there is 17 pages listing the names of dog handlers who were killed in action, with their name, age, unit, home, when they died, and Vietnam Memorial panel number. What strikes you most, to any of us with young adult or grown children, is how young they are. Almost all are from 19 to 24, with most ages 19 to 21.
As I usual I will share some of my favorite excerpts from the book.
When he first volunteered to be a sentry dog handler, this comment made me laugh as he goes out to all the barking German Shepherds:
'It didn’t really matter which dog was assigned to me, because they all wanted to eat me.'
I like the info provided on training. This bit helped picture all the dogs and handlers training together:
'We would make our way to the training area, surrounded by a chain link fence, and across the dirt road from the kennel. We'd all assemble in a platoon formation in the center of the training yard and below a tall wooden platform. The platoon sergeant stood on top of the platform to command and dog-drill the platoon.
When the platoon sergeant commanded, “Sit dog command” the dog handlers would simultaneously repeat the command, “Sit!” When all the dogs sat, the sergeant would command, “Down dog command.” Again, everyone chorused, “Down!” The sergeant would yell at us if we didn’t execute the command in unison. Rhythm and precision were both key to the training exercise. '
We learn some on training sentry dogs. From another book I know by far the greatest number of dogs used by the United States in WWII had that role. In this book the commands are described that make up attack training:
'There were three commands to the attack phase: “Watch him,” “Get him,” and “Out.” The command “Get Him” meant that the handler wanted his dog to attack the target. “Out” meant that the handler wanted the dog to stop attacking and release from the target.'
Later when they are asking for people to be scout dog trainers, the next bit starts off the discussion why it wasn't a popular job:
'As the handlers talked with the group of replacements, I was getting more anxious to volunteer to work with them. Then someone asked a question that was probably on many minds: “Where is the scout-dog team positioned in a tactical formation?”
I imagine everyone knows why dogs were so valuable helping on patrol, but nice to have it spelled out:
'A dog’s eyes can detect movement at greater distances than any foot soldier can, even at night. A dog can hear sounds at much greater distances than a soldier can. A dog’s sense of smell and touch is far greater than any human’s. A dog’s senses, coupled with his loyalty and desire to serve a master, make him invaluable as a scout, The relationship and the bond that develop between a dog and handler is remarkable.'
Here is more on how far a scout dog can detect someone and factors that affect their performance:
'As it turned out, Clipper’s first alert had been about a hundred yards from the decoy. Using these training techniques helped me learn how Clipper alerted on a human hiding behind a tree. I began repeating the exercise over and over, even in the rain. I learned that wind, heat, humidity, density of vegetation and terrain, surrounding noises, and the movement of others influenced how strongly and how far from a target a scout dog could alert.'
Here is their philosophy on using treats in training:
'Timber’s only reward for his performance was the verbal and physical affection I gave him. We never gave treats to our dogs; they were on a basic diet of water and canned and packaged food issued by the military and monitored by Doc Glydon. In combat situations, it was easy to imagine running out of treats and being in deep shit with a disobedient dog and Charlie lurking in the jungle shadows. Things out there happened too fast to have to bribe or coax a dog into performing. We played on the German shepherd’s natural intelligence and love for human companionship to produce split-second obedience.'
Finally, this last bit is one of the more dramatic parts (that didn't involve people getting killed when they didn't take the alert of the dog seriously.) He trains his dog to detect trip wires. The dog either sits down in front of it, or just avoids it. As he is leading the troops out of an error, the dog kept effortless changing directions. When they get back, this is what was said:
'The lieutenant I worked with throughout the mission had finally shown up. When I stood up to greet him, he smiled and thanked me for getting his men through all the other booby traps. Then he knelt and gave Clipper a hug and told him what a great dog he was,
I was puzzled, so I asked, “What ‘other booby traps,’ sir?”
Looking at me as though I should have known the answer to that, he said, “When your dog changed directions for the first time, one of my men spotted a grenade tied to the base of a rubber tree, with a tripwire leading to another tree. After you and the dog changed directions several times, my men got wise to what was going on and started searching for booby traps. The times we stopped were to mark the booby traps the dog helped us avoid.”
He explained that the marked traps would be detonated after the entire company was safely through the area. Finally, I realized that Clipper’s deliberate changes in direction were to avoid those booby traps and tripwires. I'd seen none of them because I hadn’t stop to search. Then I remembered that Clipper had performed that maneuver during our training sessions, going around a tripwire when he didn’t feel like sitting in front of it.
The platoon leader told me that it was brave to have taken the lead when I didn’t have to. He said, “If it hadn’t been for Clipper some of my men could have been wounded or killed. I'm recommending you and Clipper for the Bronze Star.”'
This book is a nice tribute to those who served along with their dogs.
PS: For those who don't like dog books where Kleenex is needed, this would be one to skip for that reason, although you miss out on a lot of great dog books if that is your criteria.
Dog Tags of Courage is a well told story from a combat infantrymen and dog handler who was there. If you have read other books or seen movies of Viet Nam this book shows similar elements so I will focus on the dog aspects.
The author goes from being an infantrymen, to being a sentry dog handler, to being a scout dog handler. There are enough elements of training dogs to satisfy me. There is enough 'action' in the book to satisfy us as we also pray we never have to send our youth to be sacrificed again.
In the end of the book there is 17 pages listing the names of dog handlers who were killed in action, with their name, age, unit, home, when they died, and Vietnam Memorial panel number. What strikes you most, to any of us with young adult or grown children, is how young they are. Almost all are from 19 to 24, with most ages 19 to 21.
As I usual I will share some of my favorite excerpts from the book.
When he first volunteered to be a sentry dog handler, this comment made me laugh as he goes out to all the barking German Shepherds:
'It didn’t really matter which dog was assigned to me, because they all wanted to eat me.'
I like the info provided on training. This bit helped picture all the dogs and handlers training together:
'We would make our way to the training area, surrounded by a chain link fence, and across the dirt road from the kennel. We'd all assemble in a platoon formation in the center of the training yard and below a tall wooden platform. The platoon sergeant stood on top of the platform to command and dog-drill the platoon.
When the platoon sergeant commanded, “Sit dog command” the dog handlers would simultaneously repeat the command, “Sit!” When all the dogs sat, the sergeant would command, “Down dog command.” Again, everyone chorused, “Down!” The sergeant would yell at us if we didn’t execute the command in unison. Rhythm and precision were both key to the training exercise. '
We learn some on training sentry dogs. From another book I know by far the greatest number of dogs used by the United States in WWII had that role. In this book the commands are described that make up attack training:
'There were three commands to the attack phase: “Watch him,” “Get him,” and “Out.” The command “Get Him” meant that the handler wanted his dog to attack the target. “Out” meant that the handler wanted the dog to stop attacking and release from the target.'
Later when they are asking for people to be scout dog trainers, the next bit starts off the discussion why it wasn't a popular job:
'As the handlers talked with the group of replacements, I was getting more anxious to volunteer to work with them. Then someone asked a question that was probably on many minds: “Where is the scout-dog team positioned in a tactical formation?”
I imagine everyone knows why dogs were so valuable helping on patrol, but nice to have it spelled out:
'A dog’s eyes can detect movement at greater distances than any foot soldier can, even at night. A dog can hear sounds at much greater distances than a soldier can. A dog’s sense of smell and touch is far greater than any human’s. A dog’s senses, coupled with his loyalty and desire to serve a master, make him invaluable as a scout, The relationship and the bond that develop between a dog and handler is remarkable.'
Here is more on how far a scout dog can detect someone and factors that affect their performance:
'As it turned out, Clipper’s first alert had been about a hundred yards from the decoy. Using these training techniques helped me learn how Clipper alerted on a human hiding behind a tree. I began repeating the exercise over and over, even in the rain. I learned that wind, heat, humidity, density of vegetation and terrain, surrounding noises, and the movement of others influenced how strongly and how far from a target a scout dog could alert.'
Here is their philosophy on using treats in training:
'Timber’s only reward for his performance was the verbal and physical affection I gave him. We never gave treats to our dogs; they were on a basic diet of water and canned and packaged food issued by the military and monitored by Doc Glydon. In combat situations, it was easy to imagine running out of treats and being in deep shit with a disobedient dog and Charlie lurking in the jungle shadows. Things out there happened too fast to have to bribe or coax a dog into performing. We played on the German shepherd’s natural intelligence and love for human companionship to produce split-second obedience.'
Finally, this last bit is one of the more dramatic parts (that didn't involve people getting killed when they didn't take the alert of the dog seriously.) He trains his dog to detect trip wires. The dog either sits down in front of it, or just avoids it. As he is leading the troops out of an error, the dog kept effortless changing directions. When they get back, this is what was said:
'The lieutenant I worked with throughout the mission had finally shown up. When I stood up to greet him, he smiled and thanked me for getting his men through all the other booby traps. Then he knelt and gave Clipper a hug and told him what a great dog he was,
I was puzzled, so I asked, “What ‘other booby traps,’ sir?”
Looking at me as though I should have known the answer to that, he said, “When your dog changed directions for the first time, one of my men spotted a grenade tied to the base of a rubber tree, with a tripwire leading to another tree. After you and the dog changed directions several times, my men got wise to what was going on and started searching for booby traps. The times we stopped were to mark the booby traps the dog helped us avoid.”
He explained that the marked traps would be detonated after the entire company was safely through the area. Finally, I realized that Clipper’s deliberate changes in direction were to avoid those booby traps and tripwires. I'd seen none of them because I hadn’t stop to search. Then I remembered that Clipper had performed that maneuver during our training sessions, going around a tripwire when he didn’t feel like sitting in front of it.
The platoon leader told me that it was brave to have taken the lead when I didn’t have to. He said, “If it hadn’t been for Clipper some of my men could have been wounded or killed. I'm recommending you and Clipper for the Bronze Star.”'
This book is a nice tribute to those who served along with their dogs.
PS: For those who don't like dog books where Kleenex is needed, this would be one to skip for that reason, although you miss out on a lot of great dog books if that is your criteria.
January 10, 2019
This is a very good book about what our infantrymen faced doing their time in Vietnam. It details some of the fights the author was in, the horrors of war, and his time as a dog handler. The handlers and dogs became very close and the dogs were heroes also, saving many lives by alerting to danger. Very sad that the handlers had to leave their dogs behind when their time was up and they went home. In the end, the dogs were just abandoned when the troops were withdrawn from Vietnam. What a sad ending to those well loved dogs.
April 11, 2024
As a law enforcement k9 handler and having served in the army myself, this book is a must read. So humbling, so heroic.
December 29, 2024
My great uncle is mentioned numerous times in this book (Ken Mook) and served alongside the author until he was shot. I’ve never read war books in the past, but wanted to read this to honor him. It has to be one of the most moving books I’ve ever read. It brought to life the history of my family and educated me on what the Vietnam war was like- the stuff we never learned in history classes. This book gave me a new found respect for those who served and serve.
January 21, 2013
Amazing book interesting educational read it in two days couldn't put it down
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews