Faithful Marine Dog Helps Cheer Wounded Soldiers
German Shepherd Lex Stationed in Iraq
Lex, a 9-year-old German Shepherd, was stationed in Iraq as part of a two member team trained to locate explosives.
On March 21, 2007, Lex and his handler, 20-year-old Corp. Dustin Jerome Lee, were on patrol in Fallujah, when an enemy grenade exploded nearby. Lex, who had received numerous shrapnel wounds, had to be dragged away from his master’s body by corpsmen, who tried unsuccessfully to save Lee.
Lex spent 12 weeks recovering from his wounds at Camp Lejeune, where vets didn’t remove one piece of shrapnel for fear of damaging his spine. Declared physically unable to return to a combat zone, Lex was shipped to a Marine base in Albany, Ga. where dogs are trained.
Lex Awarded A Purple Heart
Lex, was awarded a Purple Heart.
Since Lex had been so much a part of their son’s life, Corporal Lee’s parents began an effort to adopt the dog. They also wanted to provide a happy home for Lex in his remaining years. However, he still had two more years of service and the armed forces rarely release military dogs prior to their scheduled retirements.
Fallen Soldier’s Parents Get Help With Adopting Lex
Upon hearing about the Lee’s wish to adopt Lex, Republican Rep. Walter Jones contacted them. After pulling some strings in the Marine Corps, with the help of Marine General Mike Regner, Lex was headed home.
Rachel Lee, a schoolteacher, and her husband, Jerome, an investigator for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, admit Lex has become a welcome addition.
Like Having Part Of Dustin Home
“To have Lex is to have part of Dustin home,” Rachel Lee said in a telephone interview from Jones’ Washington office.
“He is a very good dog,” she said. “He is very loving. He loves children. You hardly ever hear a word out of him.”
Lex Helps Out At Medical Center
Jones arranged, with the help of the Humane Society, for the Lees and Lex to visit wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital near Washington.
As you might imagine, Lex was a big hit.
He Is One Of Them
“Lex is a Marine,” Rachel Lee said. “He is one of them. They loved him. They were able to pet him. He put a smile on their face.”
Oh, one other thing. The dog kennel at the Marine Corps base in Albany was named in honor of Corporal Lee last month. Marine Lex was in attendance, of course.
