War Dogs, Brad Pitt, and Eden

Brad Pitt’s latest film, Heart of the Beast, correlates two antithetical concepts: war dogs and Eden. More on that unusual coupling of Eden and war dogs momentarily. Filmed in New Zealand, the magnificent cinematography and absence of dialogue impose a quiet that approaches reverence on movie theater viewers. Pitt plays a retired Army Special Forces soldier. He and his German Shepherd have been to hell and back. Pitt’s flashbacks and the dog’s nightmares, prosthetic foreleg and titanium teeth, testify to the appalling sacrifices made by the war dog and his handler. The film plunges us into catastrophe. And we viewers join the soldier and his war dog in their last mission of survival.

Although John and I saw the movie early in the week, I reflected on its power for days afterward. Those ruminations recall my deep admiration for war dogs and their soldier handlers, learned through research and experience. Having been ‘owned by’ three Dobermans, I know they were among the first war dogs used by the United States military. The War Dog Memorial in Guam never fails to bring tears to my eyes as I ponder the loyalty, courage, and intelligence of the Dobies I have known, loved, and lost.

A chance encounter with a former combat soldier

and his war dog served as a catalyst for a character in one of my books. While on vacation and upon hearing about a war dog and his combat soldier handler, I went in search of them. I easily found a beautifully marked German Shepherd standing next to a second brown and white, fairly large dog. Tethered to an RV, the dogs looked toward the owner of a pair of feet, the remainder of whose body was hidden by the red pickup truck the crouched man was attaching to his trailer.

So you’re a war dog.

At the sound of my voice, the happy brown and white dog grinned and started wagging its long tail while the German Shepherd turned to fix dark eyes on me. If the Shepherd wagged his tail, it was imperceptible. I visualized the horrific images I had been told about what these two endured during their nine years of military service in Afghanistan.

The tall, lanky man walked over to me and nodded. Like his dog, there was no smile. But, politely answering my questions, the former soldier explained that he had begun training the German Shepherd as a six-month-old puppy. Unable to bear the phrase that seems so inane, “Thank you for your service,” I said, “I am so sorry for the hell that the two of you must have endured.”

At that, he turned away and toward the dog, Tim.

“It’s what we sign up for in my business…” Then, catching himself, he added, “at what used to be my business.” Looking at the two dogs, he remarked, “It’s amazing how well these two get along, even though they are two males. They really love one another. Sometimes, people stop to watch because they are practically lying on top of one another in their bed. His face was soft, the love for his animals shining through his features as he continued, “Doofus keeps Tim grounded…we rescued him, and he fit in from the first day.”

The reality of just who rescued whom was crystal clear in the simple statement. They were leaving for the Baja Peninsula, and I watched as the former soldier and his dogs drove away. He’d never told me his name, just the dogs.’

In my story,

The soldier is Gabe McAllister, and his war dog is a Doberman named Baron. Baron’s discovery of an I.E.D kills the dog but saves McAllister’s entire platoon. Indicted and wrongfully convicted of the sexual abuse of a six-year-old girl, Huntsville prison inmates nearly kill him.

“Max, sit. Leave Gabe alone.” The dog had moved close to Gabe when he saw the grimaces of pain. Rich suspected that the dog knew and wanted to comfort, but not everyone defined comfort as a cold, wet Doberman nose pressed into your hand.

“Let him stay, please. I was the handler for one of the only Doberman war dogs in the Corps.” The grimace was the best McAllister could do for a smile. Lindsey had started to leave but turned back around when she heard what the soldier was saying.

Baron was a ‘misfit’ when we met at Lackland. They were going to throw him out of the Corps until we hooked up.” His words were muffled; the morphine was taking effect and Rich had to lean in to understand.

“Baron and I did two tours together, then when we returned for the third, I had just received my Lieutenant stripes so Baron became my captain.”
Noting the raised eyebrow of Jansen, McAllister explained, “In the Marine Corps, dogs trained in sniffing out IEDs are given a rank higher than their handler to instill respect and admiration by the handler toward the dog. He was a black and tan Dobie; saved me and my platoon from an IED but he died doing it.”
Now tears leaked out of McAllister’s eyes, slowly making their way over the tortured flesh of his face.

Looking up, Rich saw tears in his wife’s eyes as well. Leave it to the Corps to come up with ranking the dogs higher than their handlers.

“Okay, Gabe, after a story like that, you win. Max stays right here. Can you tell me what happened, Gabe? Why you were accused of this?”

Do You Solemnly Swear: A Nation of Law, the Dark Side

What about Eden?

Brad Pitt’s latest film, Heart of the Beast, correlates two antithetical concepts: war dogs and Eden. The first ten, maybe fifteen minutes of the film drench us in the majesty and immensity of Creation. The man and dog embody harmony, unity, and belonging to a pristine world. Silence is their vocabulary, interrupted rarely by vocalization: Eden.

Ever think about it?

That there was such a place makes total sense to me. A state where words were superfluous. Where we knew what animals were thinking, where He walked with us during the ‘breezy time of day.’ And where each of us knew we belong. And where we’re headed…the echoes of Eden.

Of a place where all of creation – all of us creatures were, in a sense, one. We, humans, had dominion. But the word does not connote perversion of power or hierarchy. Rather, it implies a deep reverence for all creatures. And an understanding that supersedes words because perfect communication can exist only without words…The shared peace of each moment and the love for each one of us: Eden…

Each time I read about Eve, her decision to eat the fruit, offer it to Adam I think about His words.

‘Yet your desire shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you.’

I see me doing that.

Me beguiled by the beauty of the tree or fruit.

Me being the disobedient one.

Ever Think About Eden? About Whether It was a Real Place?

Meet the German Shepherd

The longtime Hollywood animal coordinator (Game of Thrones, The Revenant, John Wick: Chapter 3) had spent weeks scouring New Zealand for the movie’s canine star, making dozens of cold calls and house visits to breeders and rescues. Eventually, he discovered Heisenberg Kennels, where a six-year-old retired search-and-rescue stud named Uber was waiting for him. After locking eyes with his furry friend, Simpson knew he’d found his lead actor. “He just had that maturity about him,” Simpson says. “He had a softness about him, too.”

Meet the German Shepherd Who Got Top Billing Over Brad Pitt

The gift which I am sending you is called a dog and is, in fact, the most precious and valuable possession of mankind.

A Search for the Sacred