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Military dog historian Michael G. Lemish with Lucy, a 3-year-old German shepherd trained for military service, at their home in Westboro. (T&G Staff/JIM COLLINS)

By Priyanka Dayal For Telegram.com.

Robert A. Kollar was leading a platoon somewhere in Vietnam about 41 years ago when the alert German shepherd at his side suddenly stopped.

“He just sat down and didn’t want to go down a trail,” Mr. Kollar recalls. “I told my lieutenant I’m not going down there. If the dog doesn’t want to go, I’m not going.”

He doesn’t know what Rebel sensed. Booby traps, maybe? Whatever it was, he trusted his dog.

Mr. Kollar, of Cumberland, R.I., was one of the handlers who worked with the dogs that alerted humans to many dangers during the long, bloody conflict decades ago. He loved his Rebel, also known as M421.

He walked everywhere with the dog. He talked to him and read letters to him.

“That dog was your confidant,” the Army veteran says. “He was your best friend.”

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