Ebony & White

Joseph J. White
Doral Publishing: Wilsonville, OR, 1996

The story of Ebony, a black German shepherd who served in the U.S. Army K-9 Corps during the Vietnam War, and her handler Joseph White, is well worth telling. Ebony's story is important on its own merit and as a tribute to canine soldiers who have served since World War I.

White remembers Ebony as "The Ambassador of Smiles," an exuberant and highly skilled animal, and credits her with saving his life more than once. The first portion of the book recounts White's induction into the Army and training, then gradual descent into depression. His emotional decline was due to the confusion surrounding the war, some standard-issue Army bungling and the strain of his job -- "walking point" as a scout leading the way along danger-laden trails for his unit. Upon learning of the Army-trained canines -- in particular, the 47th Scout Dog Platoon stationed near Phu Bai -- White gravitated toward this work.

Working with a canine partner boosted White's morale. Regarded as a scout with "incredible early-warning skills," Ebony also possessed a "lovable warmth that could not be denied." She cemented their bond on their first day working together. Ebony led, sniffing for hidden enemies. But White, still relying on his own senses, was not in sync with her. Ebony quickly corrected him, standing patiently in his path, demanding his full attention. He writes, "She looked up at me with her warm, dark eyes, cocked her head from side to side as though she were trying to relay some sort of mental message to me. A deep awareness of being part of a team swept over me, and from that moment on I would no longer walk point alone."

Readers will not question the devotion of the pair, who worked 250 missions together, nor the difficulty of their situation. The 165-page hardcover book is not a definitive history of the K-9 Corps, though a chapter and many photographs cover that subject. Nor is it the definitive soldier's story of Vietnam. But this gritty, colorful and not always politically correct account is real and gripping, and a real tribute to the K-9 Corps.

Unfortunately, I have to add that both White's pursuits as a soldier in Vietnam and today as president of the National War Dogs Memorial Project deserve far more careful editing than the publishers provided. However, this should not deter interested readers, for White's account, including an ending befitting of the war's tragedy, is heartfelt and touching. It is an important first-hand account of the ultimate service we humans ask of our canine companions.

Cindy A. Adams, Editor