Richard LaMotte
Award-winning Author
Award Winner
Follow His Lead
The Human - Animal bond can forever heal us.
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After the sudden death of his father, Chuck must leave college. He enlists in the Army where he trains to be a scout dog handler before landing in Vietnam. His experiences are woven into an exciting ride between humor and suspense, while a deep bond between man and his dog ends up affecting many in unexpected ways. Trust, loyalty, and unconditional love replace his anger and reset the course of his life. A soldier's motto is "No man left behind," but what about the future of his dog?
FOLLOW HIS LEAD
a FINALIST for a Hemingway Award for outstanding works for
20th Century Wartime Fiction.
Available through your local bookstore
Reviews for
Follow His Lead
"LaMotte's insightful descriptions of protagonist dog Zeke -- his true to life body and head movements, his intuitively brave actions and behavior, his intelligence and awareness, his loyalty to his handler -- all work together to make a great read for those who want to learn more about the incredible teamwork that takes place between a man and his partner dog under the most stressful wartime conditions. A war does not end until the last of the many stories of the war are told, and this is one you will not want to miss."
-Col. US Army (Ret.) Joseph Tedeschi
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"One would never know that you weren't in Vietnam by your detailed description of places and events. It is like I stepped into a time machine while reading. Memories long-forgotten awakened vividly my time there with the dogs. I always loved dogs as a child, but working with these [dogs] took it to a whole different level. The thought of leaving those amazing animals behind has haunted me for over 50 years."
-Sp4 Mike Gillern, Vietnam Vet Tech
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As featured in the Nov 1, 2023 issue
"Follow His Lead is a compelling and little known story of the Vietnam War. It will define the military jargon and brotherhood of war dog handlers. You will better understand how the German Shepherd Infantry Scout Dog’s early silent warnings saved countless lives in the dark jungles infested with camouflaged anti-personnel traps, hidden enemy snipers and ambushes. If you want to learn what it was like to walk point with a dog into enemy territory, then read “FOLLOW HIS LEAD.” - Master Sgt. US Army (Ret.)
John C. Burnam, Author, Canine Warrior
Founder, US Military Working Dogs Monument