An American Soldier and the Battle of Their Lives (Kindle Single)

A fast paced account of a terrier turned soldier. Rags (so named because he was found among dirty rags on the streets of Paris) stayed close to his friend and rescuer Donovan throughout the First World War battles in France.

Donovan’s job was to repair the communications cables that were continuously being damaged by shelling and artillery fire. Rags learned to take messages to units, to sniff out damaged cables, and to lift the spirits of those around him.

After the war, the men of the 1st Division saw to it that he could return home with Donovan and receive the recognition that many of the physically and mentally wounded were never given. He became a symbol of the courage and endurance of those who fought in the Great War.

This was a riveting and heartwarming story of a brave man and his faithful companion. It was also the story of the strength and resilience of the American soldier. Loved this book!

Many animals pay their way on this earth doing jobs. Horses plow or pull carriages, lions and tigers perform, elephants move large objects, dogs sniff drugs and find buried people. They also become our friends and their loyalty runs deep. Rags was remarkable for his talents in WWI putting himself in danger for the sake of his human as well as being naturally gregarious and curious. His friendly nature endured him to many soldiers and lifted many spirits. This is an uplifting read, a bright spot in the midst of today's depressing headlines.

I loved Rag's story, even though, somehow, I had never heard of him before! I cried for the mini dachshund, and for the battle still facing so many of today's military war dogs. Those fighting for them to come home still often face uphill battles, and even more so for the mascots that help our soldiers retain that part of themselves despite what they have seen and are expected to do, only to have to battle again when they get home and are overlooked.

An inspiring story about an American GI in WW1 including the use of chemical weapons. As a dog lover it is easy to relate to the faithfulness and devotion shown by this stray dog to someone who befriended him. A short story, worth the read, not well written, but the story makes up for that.

A mongrel dog goes from anonymity to hero. A very enjoyable short story, I'm sure there is much more to it, but it hits some highlights as the battle in the Argonne was awful with tens of thousands of deaths. I feel the joy the servicemen had when Rags would jump in and visit them in their holes. Animals are wonderful and can bring such joy for many people in need of comfort, the story of Rags is a testament of this.

As with other WWI novels, it's a sobering reminder of the horrors and difficulties in the "War to End All Wars" with the situations that were next to impossible to deal with for the heroes of that time. However, it's awesome to think that a little dog could have such a great impact, and that it's a true story. Well-written novel of friendship and determination.

The loyalty of our four - legged fur friends is absolute. Their intelligence and love are also strong, and they are rarely seen as "just" animals to most people who encounter them. Rags gave many men comfort, saved dozens of lives, and loved his human friend more than anything. Reading this brought tears to my eyes more than once.

I liked the story, there just wasn't enough detail. It needed to be fleshed out. I thought it read more like a book report than an in-depth story. It may be that there just simply wasn't enough information available about the young man involved, but I would think that in this day and age, there would be. He seemed to have relied on already published reports of the events and didn't do any more in-depth digging for himself.

What could make a better read? Nothing I can think of. This is a true tale of a terrific dog who had no designs to be a hero. He just wanted to be loyal and helpful. In that way he brought comfort, companionship and, often, safety to soldiers on the front lines of a horrific war. His resourcefulness and faithfulness in battle are described and then, when he returns to the states, we learn what happens to him - For the most part, that is exactly what I (and I suspect he too) hoped for.

Almost unbelievable what the dog accomplished during the battles. Story did not detail any training for handler or dog. Epilogue states most of story was taken from older books, archives, new stories, etc... so it’s a true story but still felt like it was missing parts. Also a quick read. About 100 pages

This story of Rags is a short, very enjoyable read. I consider myself a dog person and every page I read made me think about my own girl and what she might have done in the same situations. A thoroughly enjoying book and highly recommended.

It's short and entertaining, just kind of schmalzy. If you want a quick uplifting read and you like dogs (which I do), you should try it. If you want a good read that will stimulate your intellect, look elsewhere.

This story reads like historical fiction, astounding that it's true. The prose is well written and the story keeps you interested. Highly recommended if you are at all interested in dog stories or history.

Very quick short, but important story! A WWI novel, the book details the significance and duties of one of America's first famous military dogs and the loving, loyal relationships that formed as a result.