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Eddie (left) and a couple of buddies in front of their barracks during photo school in Pensacola, Florida.

Kathleen's dad, Eddie McDonald, served in the Navy as a photographer's mate during the Korean War.

As a Navy photographer, Eddie handled intelligence and public relations events such as this visit by Dwight Eisenhower.

Eddie also covered ceremonies such as the Change of Command, a Navy tradition since the Civil War.

Eddie was 19 years old and away from home for the first time when the Hornet set sail from Pearl Harbor to Japan.

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One day, Eddie and a buddy were on night watch on the deck. Bingo followed along with them. They hit rough waters, and waves crashed onto the deck, knocking them off their feet. Bingo tumbled across the deck and out of reach. Eddie scrambled over to Bingo and grabbed the dog tags around his neck just as he was about to go overboard. They knew then that life at sea was not a safe place for a puppy.

When the Hornet landed in Japan, Eddie brought Bingo into town to find him a permanent home. He discovered an orphanage, whose kids were delighted to adopt him.

Eddie first told Kathleen about Bingo when she was five years old. It was one of his favorite “war stories” from his four years in the Navy. When she was 21 years old and taking an illustration class for children’s books, he encouraged her to draw Bingo. Eddie always had faith that his daughter, a stay-at-home mom, would succeed as an illustrator. Whenever she promised to tell Bingo’s story by saying, “If I ever write a book…,” Eddie would respond, “No, not if -- when you write a book.”

The project gained momentum about three years ago when Kathleen found the perfect collaborator – her mother-in-law Katherine. A purchasing supervisor for a manufacturer, Katherine had always wanted to be a writer. She knew Eddie well and had heard the Bingo story many times over the years.

Before they could finish the project, however, Eddie fell ill. He saw some of the original art and initial text before he passed away in 2009, happy that his daughter was fulfilling her promise.

Katherine and Kathleen have had two readings at the Brighton Collectibles in Thousand Oaks, California. They are now working on their second book and may do a sequel to Eddie and Bingo. Apparently, Eddie made three trips overseas during his time in the Navy, and he and Bingo did meet again. Stay tuned.