Acknowledgments -- Foreword / by Former First Lady Barbara Bush -- Foreword / by Animal Planet Host Andrea Arden -- Introduction -- Animals and veterans in America: their enduring bonds and healing powers -- At your service -- The army specialist : "A reason to get out of bed in the morning" -- The marine tank commander : "That's what that dog is for" -- The army nurse : "Some kind of a guardian angel" -- The army captain : "Issac has been waiting for his special person" -- The marine corporal : "Gnome somehow can read me" -- The navy Vietnam veteran : "The dog becomes a family member" -- The navy dog handler : "this was love at first bite" -- More creatures, great and small -- The vietnam infantryman : "grab a bird, put on a glove, and go for a walk" -- The army reservist : "My God, no one is going to adopt her" -- The cowboy marine : "Here's how you saddle a horse" -- The Air Force vet and veterinarian : "Our house is a pet menagerie" -- The navy Boatswain's mate : "I just had to have him" -- Max, the horse that helps heroes : "We have all fallen in love with him" -- The army veteran : "Together, they heal and grow" -- Secrets for an enduring bond : "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's soul remains unawakened" -- Epilogue -- About the authors.