A fallen hero’s dog adopted by the soldier’s family!
On March 21,2007, Marine Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee was tragically killed in a mortar attack in Falluja, Iraq. Dusty Lee, as he was called worked along side a 8 year old German Shepard named Lex who was a superb bomb detection dog. The two were close partners who searched Iraq for roadside bombs, slept together and when Dusty was killed and Lex severely injured, it took several men to pull a whimpering Lex away from Dusty’s side.
Exactly 9 months later, yesterday, December 21, 2007, the Marines turned over Lex to Dusty’s family to be adopted after a lengthy fight to do so. According to the military, Lex was two years shy of retirement and they weren’t ready to let him go. However, the Lees mounted a strong campaign to gain custody of Lex through an internet petition and the aid of a North Carolina congressman who took the case to the highest echelon of the Marines.
Check out the video of Lex and his story from CNN
As an added acknowledgement of the service that these military dogs provide and honoring the close bond that they share with the servicemen and women they work with, Dr. Carmen Battaglia of the AKC Companion Recovery organization awarded to Lex and the Lee’s a special honor. On the AKC’s behalf, Dr. Battaglia presented the Lex with a one year AKC Pet Healthcare Wellness plan that includes coverage for up to $13,000 a year for future illnesses and accidents as well as preventative care such as shots, flea, tick and heartworm preventatives. In addition, the AKC presented the Lees with a certificate of bravery honoring Lex and a bronze statue of a German Shepard that signifies the role of this breed in society.
To the Lees, Lex represents the last living creature that was with their son when he died. Knowing the close bond that the two shared allows the Lee family to love Lex as they knew their son did. It gives them peace in some way to have Lex as part of their family sharing in their lives as once Dustin did.
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