Soldier: A Dog's Life Beside a Man's Journey

By Jeff Hicks

Soldier: A Dog's Life Beside a Man's Journey is a deeply personal nonfiction memoir about loyalty, resilience, and healing-told through the life of an extraordinary dog and the man who walked beside him.

When a worn, skittish yellow dog is rescued on a cold Christmas Eve in Alaska, neither he nor his new owner knows the road ahead. The man is an Air Force pilot navigating the aftershocks of war, career upheaval, and a fractured marriage. The dog, later named Soldier, carries his own invisible scars from a hard beginning. Together, they begin a journey that spans continents, careers, and seasons of profound change.

From frozen Alaskan airfields to remote fishing villages, from the cliffs of Kodiak Island to the deserts of Nevada and the shores of the Gulf Coast, Soldier becomes more than a companion. He is a constant-anchoring a family through deployments, divorce, single parenthood, and reinvention. Along the way, Soldier's fearless spirit, stubborn will to survive, and unwavering loyalty leave an indelible mark on everyone he meets.

This memoir weaves together aviation, wilderness, military service, fatherhood, and faith, exploring how love can arrive quietly and stay steadfast through life's hardest moments. It is a story about the bonds that save us, the scars we carry unseen, and the rare kind of love that asks for nothing but presence.

For readers who appreciate heartfelt memoirs, stories of military life, outdoor adventure, and the unbreakable bond between humans and animals, Soldier is a moving tribute to a dog who became family-and to the journey that shaped them both.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GFY6YYRN
• ISBN13: 9798218892777
• Release Date: January 2026
• Publisher: Jeffrey Hicks
• Length: 70 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 6.0" x 9.0"