Basenjis are beautiful African hounds that yodel instead of bark. The exotic breed is known for not shedding, cleaning themselves like cats, laughing and yodeling. Small and lithe, the clean-limbed dogs run like antelopes and glide when they walk. Their foreheads are deeply wrinkled and they have doubly curled tails which ride on their backs. They are indeed unusual.

The basenji has a long reaching history. Ancient Egyptians used basenji shaped footstools and featured the exotic hounds in paintings. Anubis, the God of the Underworld was depicted with a basenji head. The dogs were the cherished pets of the noble gentry.

In the 1930s, basenjis were imported to Europe, Canada and the United States. They have quite a following and many basenji organizations and publications have sprung up as a nod to this delightful breed of dog.

My interest in this book started when a former employer/friend's wife asked me to get a copy if I ever found it. This was about 12-13 years ago. Her older brother was an original Alamo Scout and participated on this raid liberating POW's in the Phillipine Islands just prior to the close of WW II. I was unable to locate the book and eventually got a phone number connecting me with a most gracious Mr. Johnson who informed me that he was going to print with some more copies. I was active duty Navy and working for Admiral John D. Bulkely (a Medal of Honor recipient) on the Board of Inspection and Survey at the time. The Admiral was famous for taking General MacArthur and family out of the PI on Navy PT boats at the start of the war. Mr Johnson told me the Alamo Scouts worked closely with the PT boat Navy for some of their operations throughout the war. Mr. Johnson's book was very informative and about something I knew very little of. The heroism of the individuals involved and the author's ability in recounting their story was inspiring and a good read. We are fortunate to have someone tell this remarkable story. The soldier I mentioned at the start made a career in the Army Special Forces and also participated in the Raid on Son Tay POW camp in North Vietnam many years later. If only I had known that there were real life hero's right near that little town I was raised in Iowa. I was unaware of so many things when I was a youngster.