Soldier Dogs (39 page)

All interviews in this book were conducted between May and October 2011, either in person, by phone, or via e-mail. Rarely did I have e-mail contact only.

Interviews with several sources are used throughout the book—for background and/or direct quotation—and cannot be categorized neatly into one or two sections below. These wide-ranging sources are Air Force Master Sergeant Antonio “Arod” Rodriguez, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Kristopher Knight, “Doc” Stewart Hilliard, Air Force Major William Roberts, Marine Captain John “Brandon” Bowe, Michael Lemish, Air Force Technical Sergeant Joseph Null, Gerry Proctor, Nancy Ori (Department of Defense military working dog inventory manager), Brandon Liebert, and Navy Master Chief Scott Thompson.

In doing research for this book, I pored through hundreds of publications, including newspapers and magazine articles, government documents, Web site posts, scientific studies, PowerPoint presentations, and books. This research was primarily to bolster my background and knowledge of the topic. In this section I cite only publications I directly quote or refer to in the book.

“1st Cavalry Division, 7th Regiment, Hq. & Hq. Co., K-9 Platoon First K-9 Unit to See Combat During the Korean War,”
USWardogs.org
,
http://www.uswardogs.org/id89.html
.

Harris, Gardiner. “A Bin Laden Hunter on Four Legs,”
New York Times
, May 4, 2011,
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/science/05dog.html
.

Interviews with Marine Sergeant Rosendo Mesa, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Justin Green, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, Marine Corporal Andrei Idriceanu, Julie Schrock, Navy Lieutenant Commander John Gay, Amanda Lothian, Ron Aiello, Victoria Stillwell, Army Sergeant Amanda Ingraham, Army Staff Sergeant Marcus Bates.

Johnson, Garth. “Awww: A War Dog Helped Take Out Osama,”
Gothamist
, May 4, 2011,
http://gothamist.com/2011/05/04/awww_a_war_dog_helped_take_out_osam.php
.

Kriel, Robyn. “Civilian Casualties Helped by Marines in Safar Bazaar Garmsir Province Afghanistan,”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBIzVysaJXs&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
.

Lemish, Michael G.
War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism
(Dulles, VA: Potomac Books, Inc., 2008).

Waller, Anna M.
Dogs and National Defense
, Department of the Army, Office of the Quartermaster General, 1958,
http://www.qmmuseum.lee.army.mil/dogs_and_national_defense.htm
.

“Funny Police Dog Fail,”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTDn0-jIm7k
.

Interviews with Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Burger (program manager for the Improvised Explosive Device Detector Dog [IDD] capability), Navy Master-at-Arms First Class
McAuthor Parker, Navy Senior Chief Machinist Mate Sean Craycraft, Navy Master-at-Arms Third Class Cameron Frost, Ronnie Nye DVM, John Engstrom, John Bradshaw, David Garcia, Air Force Staff Sergeant Richard Crotty, Air Force Master Sergeant Richard Reidel (341st Training Squadron operations superintendent), Air Force Technical Sergeant Justin Marshall, Air Force Technical Sergeant Jason Barken, Navy Master-at-Arms First Class Ekali Brooks, Navy Master-at-Arms Seaman Glenn Patton, Victoria Stillwell, Mark Hines (Canine Behavior and Training Specialist, Kong Co.).

Richardson, Lieutenant Colonel Edwin H.
British War Dogs: Their Training and Psychology
(London: Skeffington & Son, Ltd., 1920).

Statement of Work: Potential Military Working Dogs
, 341st Training Squadron, 2006,
www.lackland.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-061211-005.pdf
.

“Your Country Needs Your Dog,” Mod.uk,
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/TrainingandExercises/DefenceAnimalCentre/YourCountryNeedsYourDog.htm
.

Bradshaw, John.
Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better Friend to Your Pet
(New York: Basic Books, 2011).

Coren, Stanley.
How Dogs Think: What the World Looks Like to Them and Why They Act the Way They Do
(New York: Free Press, 2005).

Interviews with Alexandra Horowitz, Air Force Technical Sergeant Gwendolyn Dodd, Marine Staff Sergeant Kenny Porras, Marine Corporal Charles “Cody” Haliscak, Navy Master-at-Arms Second Class Joshua Raymond, Air Force Technical Sergeant Adam Miller, Army Captain Emily Pieracci DVM, John Bradshaw, Stanley Coren, Navy Lieutenant Commander John Gay, Marine Corporal Wesley Gerwin, Brian Hare, Alice and Duane Putnam, Jingzhi “Hippo” Tan.

Stillwell, Victoria.
Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
(New York: Scribner, 2009).

Dalton, Curt. “The Dog Days of War,”
DaytonHistoryBooks.com
:
http://www.daytonhistorybooks.com/page/page/1640971.htm
.

Fimrite, Peter. “Marine, Dog to Reunite After Hard Journey for Both,”
San Francisco Chronicle
, November 24, 2011.

“Guardians of the Night,”
K9Pride.com
,
http://k9pride.com/2008/05/06/guardians-of-the-night/
.

Interviews with Marine Sergeant Mark Vierig, Air Force Staff Sergeant Brent Olson, Air Force Staff Sergeant Chris Keilman, Army Sergeant Amanda Ingraham, Robert Kollar, Walter Burghardt, DVM, Kelly Mann, DVM, Nicola J. Rooney (Research Fellow, University of Bristol Anthrozoology Institute), Marine Sergeant Rosendo Mesa, Julie Schrock, John Engstrom, Sylvana Stratton, James Bailey, Larry and Lynette Sargent, Debbie Kandoll, Jerry and Karen Self, Ron Aiello, Michael Jernigan, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Chris Willingham, Marine Gunnery Sergeant Justin Green, Marine Corporal Andrei Idriceanu.

Lemish, Michael G.
War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism
(Dulles, VA: Potomac Books Inc., 2008).

Letter from Connie Totten-Oldham, manager of stamp development for the U.S. Postal Service, to Ron Aiello, president, United States War Dog Association, September 19, 2011.

Letter to Sen. John Warner from William Putney, DVM, October 18, 2000, Congressional Record, V. 146, Pt. 16, October 13, 2000, to October 24, 2000.

McCombs, Phil. “A Soldier’s Best Friend,”
The Washington Post
, November 25, 2000.

The Papers of George Washington—Documents, October 6, 1777,
http://gwpapers.virginia.edu/documents/revolution/howe.html
.

Perry, Tony. “Afghanistan’s Most Loyal Troops,”
Los Angeles Times
, February 8, 2011.

“PFC Colton Wesley Rusk, USMC,”
http://www.sawyergeorgefuneralhome.com/obituaries/2010/12/pfc-colton-wesley-rusk-usmc/
.

Roughton, Randy. “Fallen Marine’s Family Adopts His Best Friend,” U.S. Department of Defense, February 4, 2011,
http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=62703
.

Schrock, Julie Burget.
Missing Max: Finding Hope After My Marine Son’s Death
(Altamonte Springs, FL: Advantage Inspirational, 2011).

     ACKNOWLEDGMENTS     

A platoon of dedicated men and women—both military and civilian—had my back throughout this book. I am really lucky to have had their support in telling the story of these devoted handlers and their incredible military working dogs.

Arod (Master Sergeant Antonio Rodriguez) was always a phone call or e-mail away, day or night, from the very beginning of this project. He may not have a starring role in the pages of this book, but he was there every step of the way, supplying me with credible sources, rich background information, and an honest look at every aspect of the military working dog world. His goal from the outset was just to get these handlers and dogs the recognition they richly deserve.

Gunny (Gunnery Sergeant Kristopher Knight) was also deeply devoted to helping tell the story of these teams. He provided me with invaluable contacts and behind-the-scenes info, and unprecedented access. And like Arod, he pulled no punches when it came to telling it like it is. The fact that neither of these guys is a sheeple has greatly benefited the book.

If it hadn’t been for Gerry Proctor, the public affairs officer at Lackland Air Force Base, this book would have been left at the gates of a vital part of the Military Working Dog Program. He does not grant this kind of book-author access easily or lightly, and I am indebted to him for seeing that this was a project worth supporting.

Also to thank at Lackland for their hard work in regularly getting me the info I needed: “Doc” Stewart Hilliard, Air Force
Master Sergeant Richard Reidel, Nancy Ori, Ronnie Nye, DVM, and Walter Burghardt, DVM.

Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Rounds, Navy Master-at-Arms First Class McAuthor Parker, Navy Master-at-Arms Second Class Lisette La Torrre, Navy Master-at-Arms Seaman Silvia Cureses, and Navy Master-at-Arms Second Class David Gutierrez are among many who contributed excellent information and stories that did not make it into the book in the final cut because of space constraints.

Lieutenant Commander John Gay, public affairs officer at Navy Expeditionary Combat Command in Virginia, worked overtime to get me access to a submarine with a jaunty little dog inspecting it for bombs. I’m grateful to him for letting me see the many ways the navy uses dogs and for his introduction to Master Chief Scott Thompson, who had just gotten back from his yearlong command of the dog program in Afghanistan.

I’m deeply grateful to Julie Schrock, Corporal Max Donahue’s mother, for being able to open up and talk about her son, which, if painful for me, must have been almost unbearable for her at times. And to all the marines who helped fill me in on Donahue’s story.

A salute to Marine Captain John “Brandon” Bowe for his across-the-board support, and to Bill Childress, Marine Military Working Dog Program manager.

Michael Lemish generously assisted me in delving into this history of military dogs, and Ron Aiello helped me look to both the past and future of these dogs.

In the realm of the senses and sciences, a big thanks to John Bradshaw, Alexandra Horowitz, and Stanley Coren for their contributions. Hats off to Korrina Duffy, at the Duke Canine Cognition Center, and to Brian Hare, who heads the center with aplomb.

There are several people I’m grateful for on the editorial side of things: Agent Deirdre Mullane, for seeking me out to do this book after finding out about my passion for military working dogs, and for helping me whip the proposal into shape in record time; agent Carol Mann, for her usual great work throughout; Dutton editor Stephen Morrow, for his enthusiasm for the book and his superb guidance and suggestions; Dutton’s Stephanie Hitchcock, for dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s; writer Mark MacNamara, for his eye for a good story; clearance consultant Valarie Barsky, for her fine work in getting all permissions and clearances in order; Kimball Worcester, because how often does a copy editor specializing in military history move in next door the day you sign a military book contract?; Janine Kahn, for holding down the fort at Dogster while I took a leave of absence to finish this book; author Jane Miller, for helping Deirdre Mullane find me; and writer Daniela Caride, of Taildom, for bending over backward to share her sources when I was fresh out the gate.

A heartfelt
grazie
to my terrific husband, Craig Hanson, for pitching in with everything during the extremely busy months of putting this book together, and ditto to our daughter, Laura, for hanging in there and being a great kid while I disappeared into this book.