Skip to main content

John C. Burnam

Biography

John C. Burnam

John C. Burnam served as a United States Army combat infantryman and scout-dog handler from 1966 1968. His service awards include the Legion of Merit medal; Combat Infantry Badge; Purple Heart; Bronze Star; Air Medal; Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry Ribbon; Meritorious Service medal; Army Achievement medal; Paratrooper Wings; a Presidential Unit Citation; a Vietnam Civic Actions medal, and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Leaf.

In 1983, Master Sergeant Burnam retired from the army and made Washington, D.C., his home. John is now a senior writer/editor on information technology with Bart & Associates, Inc. of McLean, Virginia. As president of the John Burnam Monument Foundation, Inc., he was integral in founding the National Monument for U.S. Military Working Dog Teams, which is located at Lackland Air Force Base, near San Antonio, Texas. John has been featured in several documentary films. His first published book was DOG TALES OF COURAGE.

John C. Burnam

Books by John C. Burnam

Dog Tags of Courage: Combat Infantrymen and War Dog Heroes in Vietnam
by John C. Burnam - History, Military, Nonfiction

This is the remarkable, little-known story of 4,000 superbly trained German shepherds and their human handlers, whose combined efforts saved countless lives in the Vietnam War. It is an authentic account, seen through the eyes of a teenage American combat infantryman who served two tours of duty as a scout-dog handler. John Burnam explores the almost mystical bond that developed between 10,000 valorous young soldiers and their extraordinary canine teammates.