GETTING TO KNOW the Willinghams—the two-legged ones and the amazing three-legged one with the expressive eyebrows—has been a real joy. They welcomed me into their home, where, much to my amazement, Lucca chose to become my part-time roommate in the spacious basement guest room they generously provided during my eleven days with them. Living alongside this hero dog who canters about the house as if nothing has happened gave me a true insight into her character that I may not have had without this time we spent together.
That Lucca decided to hang out with me for hours at a time instead of constantly shadowing Chris Willingham, as is her tradition, made me think I must be pretty special. The doggy salmon treats I kept at my bedside table for her had nothing to do with her loyalty to me during my visit. The fact that every time she came in my room, she plopped down and positioned herself facing the bag of treats was mere coincidence. Same for when I ran out of treats and she ran back upstairs to be with Chris and family. Coincidence! No, Lucca was crazy about her biographer, and the feeling was mutual.
And yes, she snores, and it’s endearing as hell.
It’s hard to describe being in the presence of Lucca. You look into her eyes and realize how much this dog has seen, smelled, heard, and experienced: Her youth in the Netherlands, formative months in Israel, war in Iraq twice, war in Afghanistan, the death of her best friend, chaos and turmoil, night air assaults, the thrill of the Kong, the aroma of red chicken stew in Afghanistan, mortars, the scent of firefights and fear, IEDs and IEDs and IEDs, losing a leg, visiting wounded warriors, family life, waking up to the scent of pancakes and bacon on Sunday mornings. It’s all inside this hero, and I’m happy to have had a hand in helping unlock her experiences for readers. Thank you, Lucca, for everything you have done in your life and for all the lives you have saved.
Jill Willingham, a devoted nurse, badass athlete, and great mom, was an incredible resource for this book. Her insights and her candor helped give Top Dog a depth it wouldn’t have otherwise had.
She describes Lucca as a calm leader. Jill could just as easily be describing her husband, Chris. Chris Willingham is one of the most level-headed, nice, genuine, and positive people I’ve ever met. He cares deeply about family, including all his marine dog-handler brothers. He has a quiet confidence mixed with true humility. He says those same words about his father and personal hero, Elden Willingham. I am grateful that apple fell close to the tree. Chris’s unwavering work ethic, patience, smarts, sense of humor, organizational skills, love of Lucca, and enthusiasm for telling her story are really at the heart of why this book is in your hands. Without him being there every step of the way—and almost every day—this book would not have come to be.
A salute to Elden Willingham for raising a fine son with Martha Willingham and for his service during the Vietnam War. I’m pleased that his own war story, which he has kept close to his chest for so long, can finally be told. In relating his story, I hope to honor others who served in the Vietnam War and to bring awareness to the kinds of experiences they had to come through with little or no support.
Juan “Rod” Rodriguez, Lucca’s “other dad,” was clearly a fantastic choice for Lucca’s second handler. The first time I met him was via a three-hour Skype conversation with Chris and me when I was staying with the Willinghams. I could sense his deep devotion to this dog even through the grainy video. Like Chris, he is as humble as they get. Lucca, who was lying between Chris’s chair and mine for most of the Skype conversation, seemed delighted to see Rod on the laptop screen and recognized his voice immediately, wagging her tail and angling her head when he first appeared. Despite his busy schedule of work and school, he managed to be there for me anytime I needed to interview him.
Hats off to Rod’s mom, Elsa Nolasco, for doing what it took as a single mother who moved from Puerto Rico to Massachusetts to help make a better life for her children and help made Rod the great guy he is today. A book scene with her fell through, and I want her in this book, so here’s to you, Elsa!
I’ve taken up a lot of book real estate to thank Lucca’s immediate “family,” so I’ll try to keep the rest of the acknowledgments a bit shorter.
Jake Parker, the pseudonym for the Special Forces soldier who worked alongside Rod, was an immense help in putting together the scenes for Lucca’s Afghanistan deployment. His experience as a Green Beret, with his knowledge of Pashto and insight into local culture, proved invaluable to the manuscript.
Kris Knight—what can I say? Larger than life, a main character in my book Soldier Dogs, and now a featured player in Lucca’s story. You can’t talk to this guy and not smile. He is a born storyteller and generously gave his time to our many interviews and countless texts. He and his wife, Rinat, visited my family in San Francisco right after the deadline for this book, and after they left, my daughter commented on his hug, which was also larger than life: “He’s like a giant rock hugging you with two giant rock arms.”
A huge thanks to army veterinarian Jim Giles, the head of the crack team that got Lucca through her surgery. He helped me understand every minute of the surgery and what happened before and after. We had an initial three-plus-hour interview about the surgery and several follow-ups. Lucca’s surgery took less time than it took for him to painstakingly describe the details so I could make that scene come to life.
In a similar vein, I’d like to thank army veterinarian Shane Chumbler, who was in charge of the veterinary clinic at Leatherneck when Lucca showed up. He was an enormous help with descriptions of medical procedures. Lucca was in fantastic hands with everyone who dealt with her during this time, from the medic in the field onward.
I have great admiration for Danielle Roche, who was in charge of all the dog teams on Lucca’s first deployment. She provided me with some wonderful details that enrich the book.
Retired U.S. Army Colonel Peter Mansoor, who served as General Petraeus’s executive officer during the troop surge of 2007 to 2008, was my go-to man for questions about the situation in Iraq from a military and historical perspective. I feel very lucky to have had Mansoor, the General Raymond E. Mason Jr. Chair of Military History at the Ohio State University, as my consultant on these matters. He has written some excellent books, and his book Surge was a valuable resource.
Also on my valued volunteer team of experts was marine EOD tech Matt Lenz. He fielded my inquiries about explosives, particularly as they pertained to explosive ordnance disposal. Matt: Get ready to buy the shop a case of beer, because someone there is bound to see this!
Pilot Tim Raynor, of American Airlines’ Veterans and Military Initiatives, was always right there whenever I had questions about how the airline provided travel arrangements for Lucca, Chris, and Rod (most notably for the reunion) and about its support of many military and veterans programs. I applaud what this airline does for those who have served and for the families of those who have given their lives.
The staff at the American embassy in Helsinki provided excellent insight into Chris’s devotion to Lucca and the U.S. Military Working Dog Program, and they helped me with details of the reunion. Thanks especially to Nicholas Kuchova for his at-the-ready assistance and for helping make the reunion a reality.
I’m also indebted to all the others who gave their time to interview with me for this book, including Danny Cornier, Kevin Wiens, Al Brenner, Billy Soutra, Brian Kolfage, Julie Schrock, Chuck Rotenberry, Liz Rotenberry, Autumn Swank, Crystal Fenn, Leslie Nicole Smith, Kalevi Soderlund, Branden Deleon, and Jim Palmersheim.
On the editorial side, my talented Dutton editor, Stephen Morrow, has once again been a hell of a lot of fun to work with, despite yet another tight deadline. Good on ya, mate! Enthusiastic and first-rate assistant editor Stephanie Hitchcock worked tirelessly to help all the pieces come together. I’m also grateful for my hardworking agent, Carol Mann, and a kickass freelance copy editor who I apparently shall know only by her Track Changes name of “COPY EDITOR.”
Finally, my own family—husband, Craig, and daughter, Laura—for once again being hugely supportive as I disappeared into another book. Craig, you blew me away with your excellent editorial advice throughout. It’s good to be back.