Family adopts slain son's military dog

yahoonews ^ | Fri Dec 21 2007

[Names Ash Housewares]

"It's not going to bring back my brother, but it's something close to it," said Madison Lee as she played with Lex after the ceremony.

Military officials initially told the family that Lex had another two years of service before he could be adopted. But the family lobbied for months — even enlisting the aid of a North Carolina congressman — and the adoption came exactly nine months after the 20-year-old Marine was killed and his dog wounded on March 21 in Iraq's Anbar Province.

2nd Lt. Caleb Eames, spokesman for the Albany base, said Lee and Lex were sitting outside at a forward operating base in Karmah when they were hit by shrapnel from a 73mm rocket explosion.

"A part of Dustin is in Lex," said the fallen Marine's father. "To have Lex at home is a part of having Dustin at home."

Rachel Lee said she believes her son's spirit will live on through the dog because of their close bond and because they were together during the final moments of her son's life.

"It was blood on blood," she said. "We can't get Dustin back, but we have Lex."

[Trueblackman]

Had the chance to meet a PGR in traffic last week, he was from Pa and trying to get back to the Pentagon and was glad to help.

[Doogle]

Thanks Star, got to read a bit of it at the PGR site this afternoon and glad to see the “adjustment” made for this deserving family

[DancesWithCats]

This is such a wonderful heartwarming story. Perfect for Christmas. God bless them all! And yes, Merry Christmas to everyone!! (and yer lil doggies too!)

[JDoutrider]

This is so Great!

Glad to see this can be done now. It broke my heart seeing our Dog Handler Specialists not being allowed to bring their pups home from Viet Nam...

[La Enchiladita]

Dustin and Lex atop a Humvee:

More on Dustin here, scroll down a bit.

[MozarkDawg]

Thanks for the ping -- Merry Christmas to you, too!

[Badeye]

I did have a Merry Christmas, and hope you and yours did the same.