thedrifter
12-27-07, 06:56 AM
Marine canine retired from active duty; adopted by fallen partner’s family
By - Colie Young, MCLB Albany
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. (Dec. 26, 2007) -- Editor’s Note: Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee, a military working dog handler, was killed in Iraq during combat operations on March 21, 2007. He was 20. His canine partner, Lex, sustained multiple injuries from the mortar attack, and remained with his partner until other Marines arrived to provide medical attention. Following the incident Lex underwent 12 weeks of intensive treatment at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before he was deemed fully recovered. Several months following the incident, Lee’s parents, Jerome and Rachel – avid dog lovers – began appealing to the Marine Corps for the adoption of eight-year-old Lex, even though the dog was still on active duty with the Marines. The Lee family’s request was indeed a unique one; the first of its kind. After months of prayer, mailing tons of letters and making hundreds of phone calls, the Lee family’s prayers were answered. On Dec. 21, 2007, the family traveled to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany to receive a wonderful early Christmas gift … Lex. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As hoards of local and national media outlets lined up at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s main gate at zero-dark-thirty Friday morning, Lex was being fed his last military meal at the Marine Corps Police Department’s dog kennels. Did he know that in just a few more hours he would be joining his fallen partner’s family on their trip back to Mississippi the next morning? We’ll never know. Lex arrived at Covella Pond with Kennel Master Capt. Mike Reynolds soon after that last MCLB Albany meal, ready to greet the dozens of cameras waiting to zoom in on the canine for audiences around the world. The CBS Early Morning Show, FOX News, CNN and Inside Edition, were among the media jockeying for a glimpse of the flurry 75-pound canine. In addition, the Lex ceremony welcomed such guests as U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), city of Albany mayor Willie Adams and Maj. Gen. Willie J. Williams, commanding general of Marine Corps Logistics Command, among dozens of other onlookers.
As for how Lex felt about all the attention? Well, let’s just say he looked like a ‘natural.’ Upon command Lex sat, lay down, played, interacted and all but poked his chest out for the eager media. During the reading of his retirement certificate, one of his German shepherd friends seemingly got jealous with the attention he was getting and let out a single ‘bark.’
“It’s not every day that a dog gets this much attention,” Col. C.N. Haliday, MCLB Albany commanding officer, quipped as he addressed the audience after the reading of the dog’s retirement certificate, “but today, it is very fitting … Fitting because Lex shared a special bond with Corporal Dustin Lee of Quitman, Mississippi … a unique bond shared only between a military working dog and his handler.”
Haliday, who signed Lex’s paperwork for the dog’s transfer from active duty to retirement and then adoption by the Lee family, shared some heartfelt comments at the ceremony.
“This day is really not just about Lex, is it?” the colonel asked. “I don’t think we all would be here – the cameras, the reporters – if it were just about Lex, a good and faithful military dog. It is really about honoring a fallen Marine and the family he leaves behind.
“Through this adoption, we not only want to bring honor to the memory of Corporal Lee, but we want to bring honor to his family gathered here in front of you … a family who deserves our fullest respect and admiration for their son’s brave service,” Haliday said.
Following Haliday’s comments, Lee’s father – Jerome – spoke briefly to the audience and thanked the colonel, the commandant and the Marine Corps for honoring his family’s request to take Lex home with them. “My children,” he said, “will (now) have a part of Dustin to play with.” As Jerome Lee addressed the solemn crowd, his wife – Rachel – was unable to hold back her emotions knowing that her family was finally being honored with the last piece of her son’s life. Several members in the audience brushed back tears as well.
“This is a spiritual connection,” Rachel said, referring to her family being able to adopt Lex. “Dustin would be proud,” she added. Cpl. Lee first teamed with his faithful partner Lex in 2006. The two quickly developed a close bond.
“Dustin loved his dogs,” Jerome Lee said. “He spent as much time as he could to try to train the dogs as best he could.
“A lot of the Marines that I’ve talked to who were in Iraq with Dustin told me that wherever you saw Dustin, you saw Lex,” he added.
His wife Rachel added, “Since we can’t have Dustin for Christmas, besides spiritually, we can have his best friend … his companion.”
Lex will be joining the Lees and other dogs the family owns, including Doenja, a retired Belgian Malinois who was Dustin’s first military working dog partner. The family is very experienced with raising, training and handling dogs. After the ceremony, the Lees and Lex posed for additional camera shots and the family provided extensive interviews. Then, they got some well deserved rest before their departure Saturday morning.
The Lees and Lex departed MCLB Albany at 7:45 a.m. Saturday with special escorts by six Patriot Guard Riders and a number of Dougherty County Police cars. Marine officials report that his playful and affectionate nature will serve him well on his new domestic mission – becoming the family pet of his fallen partner. Merry Christmas Lee family – enjoy Lex!
Ellie
By - Colie Young, MCLB Albany
MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE ALBANY, Ga. (Dec. 26, 2007) -- Editor’s Note: Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee, a military working dog handler, was killed in Iraq during combat operations on March 21, 2007. He was 20. His canine partner, Lex, sustained multiple injuries from the mortar attack, and remained with his partner until other Marines arrived to provide medical attention. Following the incident Lex underwent 12 weeks of intensive treatment at Camp Lejeune, N.C., before he was deemed fully recovered. Several months following the incident, Lee’s parents, Jerome and Rachel – avid dog lovers – began appealing to the Marine Corps for the adoption of eight-year-old Lex, even though the dog was still on active duty with the Marines. The Lee family’s request was indeed a unique one; the first of its kind. After months of prayer, mailing tons of letters and making hundreds of phone calls, the Lee family’s prayers were answered. On Dec. 21, 2007, the family traveled to Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany to receive a wonderful early Christmas gift … Lex. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As hoards of local and national media outlets lined up at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany’s main gate at zero-dark-thirty Friday morning, Lex was being fed his last military meal at the Marine Corps Police Department’s dog kennels. Did he know that in just a few more hours he would be joining his fallen partner’s family on their trip back to Mississippi the next morning? We’ll never know. Lex arrived at Covella Pond with Kennel Master Capt. Mike Reynolds soon after that last MCLB Albany meal, ready to greet the dozens of cameras waiting to zoom in on the canine for audiences around the world. The CBS Early Morning Show, FOX News, CNN and Inside Edition, were among the media jockeying for a glimpse of the flurry 75-pound canine. In addition, the Lex ceremony welcomed such guests as U.S. Rep. Walter B. Jones (R-N.C.), city of Albany mayor Willie Adams and Maj. Gen. Willie J. Williams, commanding general of Marine Corps Logistics Command, among dozens of other onlookers.
As for how Lex felt about all the attention? Well, let’s just say he looked like a ‘natural.’ Upon command Lex sat, lay down, played, interacted and all but poked his chest out for the eager media. During the reading of his retirement certificate, one of his German shepherd friends seemingly got jealous with the attention he was getting and let out a single ‘bark.’
“It’s not every day that a dog gets this much attention,” Col. C.N. Haliday, MCLB Albany commanding officer, quipped as he addressed the audience after the reading of the dog’s retirement certificate, “but today, it is very fitting … Fitting because Lex shared a special bond with Corporal Dustin Lee of Quitman, Mississippi … a unique bond shared only between a military working dog and his handler.”
Haliday, who signed Lex’s paperwork for the dog’s transfer from active duty to retirement and then adoption by the Lee family, shared some heartfelt comments at the ceremony.
“This day is really not just about Lex, is it?” the colonel asked. “I don’t think we all would be here – the cameras, the reporters – if it were just about Lex, a good and faithful military dog. It is really about honoring a fallen Marine and the family he leaves behind.
“Through this adoption, we not only want to bring honor to the memory of Corporal Lee, but we want to bring honor to his family gathered here in front of you … a family who deserves our fullest respect and admiration for their son’s brave service,” Haliday said.
Following Haliday’s comments, Lee’s father – Jerome – spoke briefly to the audience and thanked the colonel, the commandant and the Marine Corps for honoring his family’s request to take Lex home with them. “My children,” he said, “will (now) have a part of Dustin to play with.” As Jerome Lee addressed the solemn crowd, his wife – Rachel – was unable to hold back her emotions knowing that her family was finally being honored with the last piece of her son’s life. Several members in the audience brushed back tears as well.
“This is a spiritual connection,” Rachel said, referring to her family being able to adopt Lex. “Dustin would be proud,” she added. Cpl. Lee first teamed with his faithful partner Lex in 2006. The two quickly developed a close bond.
“Dustin loved his dogs,” Jerome Lee said. “He spent as much time as he could to try to train the dogs as best he could.
“A lot of the Marines that I’ve talked to who were in Iraq with Dustin told me that wherever you saw Dustin, you saw Lex,” he added.
His wife Rachel added, “Since we can’t have Dustin for Christmas, besides spiritually, we can have his best friend … his companion.”
Lex will be joining the Lees and other dogs the family owns, including Doenja, a retired Belgian Malinois who was Dustin’s first military working dog partner. The family is very experienced with raising, training and handling dogs. After the ceremony, the Lees and Lex posed for additional camera shots and the family provided extensive interviews. Then, they got some well deserved rest before their departure Saturday morning.
The Lees and Lex departed MCLB Albany at 7:45 a.m. Saturday with special escorts by six Patriot Guard Riders and a number of Dougherty County Police cars. Marine officials report that his playful and affectionate nature will serve him well on his new domestic mission – becoming the family pet of his fallen partner. Merry Christmas Lee family – enjoy Lex!
Ellie