I can attest that parts of it are true and have it on good authority that the rest is as well.
They used to sing a song up at Kontum when someone didn't come back. We need to sing it now:
I had a dog, and his name was Blue,
Betcha five dollars he's a good dog too,
Here Blue, you good dog you.
He was a good dog.
Read about that, too. That was a bit before my time.