None Came Home by
None Came Home is the dramatic story of a young American G.I. who finds himself away from home for the first time in the faraway battlefields of Vietnam. Realizing his situation, he encounters a way to better his chances for survival. After a demonstration, the youth volunteers for duty in a very little known unit, the K-9 Corps, and is immediately paired with an equally inexperienced 13-month-old German Shepherd named King. We will follow these two partners through their training, growth, and baptism of fire. The binding devotion and love that grows between this young man and his dog allow them to face the overwhelming odds and obstacles placed before them in their fight for survival and a return passage to the homes they once knew. In a foreign country and climate, boy and dog must face the natural dangers and predators of the jungle terrain, the rainy monsoon season, sweltering heat, and what was considered at the time the "world's most prolific jungle warfare fighting army on earth." Trust was crucial, for the survival of both canine and human soldier depended on it. As the partnership matures, each soldier's promise to send the other home provides the foundation for a growing devotion that directs their course and provides the strength to overcome their fears and doubts. This is their story.
Dogs at War by
Dogs at War is a fascinating collection of true-life accounts of canine courage under fire. In military conflicts around the world, these often unsung heroes have proved themselves time & time again to be the soldier's best friend in moments of crisis, & many have won decorations for their acts of bravery. From the Kamikaze mine-attack dogs used by the Red Army to destroy panzers in the invading Wehrmacht's tank parks, to the parachuting dog who went into action with a British airborne division in World War Two, & the forgotten War Dogs who saved up to 10,000 lives in the Vietnam War, these extraordinary stories will appeal not just to military history enthusiasts but to all dog lovers as well.
War Dogs by
*ANew York Times Best Seller* Under the cover of night, deep in the desert of Afghanistan, a US Army handler led a Special Forces patrol with his military working dog. Without warning an insurgent popped up, his weapon raised. At the handler's command, the dog charged their attacker. There was the flash of steel, the blur of fur, and the sound of a single shot; the handler watched his dog take a bullet. During the weeks it would take the dog to heal, the handler never left its side. The dog had saved his life. Loyal and courageous, dogs are truly man's best friend on the battlefield. While the soldiers may not always feel comfortable calling the bond they form love, the emotions involved are strong and complicated. InWar Dogs, Rebecca Frankel offers a riveting mix of on-the-ground reporting, her own hands-on experiences in the military working dog world, and a look at the science of dogs' special abilities-from their amazing noses and powerful jaws to their enormous sensitivity to the emotions of their human companions. The history of dogs in the US military is long and rich, from the spirit-lifting mascots of the Civil War to the dogs still leading patrols hunting for IEDs today. Frankel not only interviewed handlers who deployed with dogs in wars from Vietnam to Iraq, but top military commanders, K-9 program managers, combat-trained therapists who brought dogs into war zones as part of a preemptive measure to stave off PTSD, and veterinary technicians stationed in Bagram. She makes a passionate case for maintaining a robust war-dog force. In a post-9/11 world rife with terrorist threats, nothing is more effective than a bomb-sniffing dog and his handler. With a compelling cast of humans and animals,this moving book is a must read for all dog lovers-military and otherwise.
Animals and War by
Animals and War: Confronting the Military-Animal Industrial Complex is the first book to examine how nonhuman animals are used for war by military forces. Each chapter delves deeply into modes of nonhuman animal exploitation: as weapons, test subjects, and transportation, and as casualties of war leading to homelessness, starvation, and death. With leading scholar-activists writing each chapter, this is an important text in the fields of peace studies and critical animal studies. This is a must read for anyone interested in ending war and fostering peace and justice.
Horses of the German Army in World War II by
Volumes have been written on the equipment of the German Army of World War II, including tanks, trucks, motorcycles, weapons, and personal equipment, but little has been written on the horses that made up 80% of its transportation. Horses pulled everything an army needed in the field by wagon or on its back and more horses were used in World War II than in any other war in history. This book includes text from the U.S. Army Military History Institute publication MS #P-090. The participants of this study were among the most knowledgeable the German army could provide, and their conclusions constitute a critique of what probably was the last mass use of horses in warfare. If one really means to understand the performance and tactics of the Wehrmacht in World War II, one must understand the horse and its logistic requirements. Also, this book presents one of the most comprehensive photo collections of the men and equipment of the horse-mounted troops.
Soldiers and Sled Dogs by
History of a century of sled dogs in the military of the United States and other countries.
Animals in the Military by
This book pays tribute to the unrecognized warriors and unsung heroes of human warfare: millions of animals from a surprising variety of species, ranging from rodents to dolphins to llamas. * Includes more than 40 photos and drawings of war animals * Features more than 25 sidebars that illuminate topics with interesting anecdotes and facts * Contains a comprehensive bibliography with further readings
War Elephants by
Elephants have fought in human armies for more than three thousand years. Asian powers boasted of their pachyderm power, while the Romans fielded elephants alongside their legendary legions but were, perhaps, too proud to admit that mere animals contributed to victory. Elephants have gored, stomped, and sliced their way through infantry and cavalry with great success. They have also been cut, speared, bombed, and napalmed for their efforts. This is the story of their largely forgotten role in the history of warfare. Generals throughout recorded history have used elephants as tanks, bulldozers, and cargo trucks long before such vehicles existed. Until gunpowder began to reduce the utility of elephants in battle during the 17th Century, these beasts built roads, swung swords, or simply terrified opposing forces. Although some believe that elephants were mere gimmicks of warfare, Kistler discredits that notion. His book hopes to give elephants the credit they deserve for the sacrifices they have endured. Elephants have long fought for and served human masters, but it is now the elephants themselves that must be protected.
Civil War Dogs and the Men Who Loved Them by
Sallie, Jack, Tip, Mike, Calamity..... These are just a few of the dogs who faithfully followed their masters through the Civil War, some right to the front line. There were spy dogs and hospital dogs.... messenger dogs and prison dogs. Some were wounded and returned to the front. Others were not so lucky. There were also the dog-lovers, such as Generals Pickett, Asboth, Barksdal and Custer, and also Presidents Jefferson Davis and Abraham Lincoln. These are but a few of the stories in this delightful book. Also included is a Civil War photo gallery of the men and their pets as well as a chapter about modern dogs of war honoring those canines who followed their Civil War counterparts into war, some of them serving in Operation Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom.
Buddies by
One of the most effective forms of American propaganda during World War II was the morale-boosting dog or buddy photo. The photos in this collection are, for the most part, previously unpublished, and each is accompanied by the stories of the dogs and their service in Europe and the Pacific.
Cry Havoc by
Cry Havoc is a fascinating insight into the history of dogs in the military and the current day employment of them. From Babylonian mastiff-type war dogs with spiked collars to modern, kitted-out military dogs highly trained to detect explosives, dogs have long been a soldier's best friend. Nigel Allsopp, a highly experienced dog handler in both military and civilian police arenas, details how the incredible abilities of dogs are indispensable in military, para-military and police operations. Country by country, he details how dogs were used and trained in the past and present for patrolling, guarding, search and rescue, parachuting and, perhaps most importantly in today's political climate, detection of explosives. Allsopp's ability to not only write this information with real passion and expertise, but also to gain permission to print highly sensitive materials from nearly 50 nations, makes this the most authoritative and comprehensive book available on the subject. Cry Havoc galvanises the notion that, despite technological advances in warfare, dogs will continue to be one of the most useful tools support of every nation's security interests. The future will continue to hear the call Cry Havoc - And let loose the dogs of war!
Beyond the Call of Duty by
A second collection of incredible and heart-warming canine stories from around the world, from the bestselling author of The Dog That Saved My Life. Animals have accompanied man into battle since war first waged. Since those times, many stories have been told of the bears, camels, cats, dolphins, monkeys, mules, rats and other creatures that have served with the Armed Forces during both world wars and beyond. The four stories in this book represent the devotion and unquestioning loyalty of the canine companion in the darkest days of war. From the stub-tailed Bull Terrier that became a hero of the First World War, and the most decorated dog in history, after his bravery in the trenches of Flanders, to the remarkable loyalty of an Iraqi stray dog who attached himself to British troops in North Port and then patrolled their camp every night, protecting them from being attacked by the vicious packs of dogs living in the desert, each is an incredible tale of wartime bravery as well as an example of inspiring commitment and courage.
Colonel Richardson's Airedales by
This is the story of one man’s struggle to develop the British War Dog School. Richardson began experimenting with military and police dogs in 1898, and in 1910 began petitioning for a British military dog program. He finally received official approval with support of officers who were unofficially, and successfully, using his dogs in the field. Over 2000 dogs were trained and sent to the front to work as Red Cross dogs, messengers, sentries and patrol dogs — the lives saved were estimated in thousands. Cummins recounts not only Richardson’s struggle, but also the history of war dogs through the ages. This book formed the basis for the documentary Dogs of War on the BBC series Inside Out, broadcast in 2006.
War Horse by
For more than four thousand years, the horse and rider have been an integral part of warfare. Armed with weapons and accessories ranging from a simple javelin to the hand-held laser designator, the horse and rider have fought from the steppes of central Asia to the plains of North America. Understanding the employment of the military horse is key to understanding the successes and the limitations of military operations and campaigns throughout history. Over the centuries, horses have been used to pull chariots, support armor-laden knights, move scouts rapidly over harsh terrain, and carry waves of tightly formed cavalry. In "War Horse: A History of the Military Horse and Rider," Louis A. DiMarco discusses all of the uses of horses in battle, including the Greek, Persian, and Roman cavalry, the medieval knight and his mount, the horse warriors Huns, Mongols, Arabs, and Cossacks the mounted formations of Frederick the Great and Napoleon, and mounted unconventional fighters, such as American Indians, the Boers, and partisans during World War II. The book also covers the weapons and forces which were developed to oppose horsemen, including longbowmen, pike armies, cannon, muskets, and machine guns. The development of organizations and tactics are addressed beginning with those of the chariot armies and traced through the evolution of cavalry formations from Alexander the Great to the Red Army of World War II. In addition, the author examines the training and equipping of the rider and details the types of horses used as military mounts at different points in history, the breeding systems that produced those horses, and the techniques used to train and control them. Finally, the book reviews the importance of the horse and rider to battle and military operations throughout history, and concludes with a survey of the current military use of horses. "War Horse" is a comprehensive look at this oldest and most important aspect of military history, the relationship between human and animal, a weapons system that has been central to warfare longer than any other."
