By now Zapata's men controlled nearly all of southern Mexico, which made Madero desperate enough to recall the most hated man in Mexico, General Victoriano Huerta to lead a campaign against Zapata. Huerta's men crushed Zapatas men in the field and committed brutal atrocities against the civilian populous, at point ordering Holmdahl's commanding officer, General Juvencio Robles to "hang them from trees like ear rings". It was during this campaign against Zapata where Holmdahl befriended a small brown-and-white mongrel dog. During the endless dangerous patrols through rebel county, the little mutt provided a measure of company and amusement of the hard and battle hardened men under Holmdahl's command. When on the move, the dog nestled itself comfortably in the saddle between the big saddle horn and his masters lean body. Holmdahl remarked the dog could maintain its seat even during a gallop over broken terrain.Soldier of Fortune: Adventuring in Latin America and Mexico with Emil Lewis Holmdahl By Douglas V. Meed, page 79
