What A Difference A Year Makes: Operation Puppy Love

Posted By Laughing_Wolf

It has been a year and two days I do believe, since I met DJ the puppy. DJ came into my life just days before my departure to spend Christmas in Iraq last year. The photo above was then, and the photo below is now:

DJ came into the lives of Team Blackfive via a request to Gryphon Airlines from Lt. Tom. His request only hinted at what was going on, and what had gone on. Even before we had that, we knew that this was something we were going to make happen.

Because it was so close to my departure, we had to move fast.

Soldier's Angels was onboard from the start, and made it possible to go to the PetSmart in Lafayette, IN to obtain the airline travel crate and contents required. It was with their help of the people at PetSmart that we got the right size crate, with the right ratings, and all the supplies for food and water that the airline required for flight. On top of it all, once they knew the story, that store donated chew toys to the effort. Prudent Publishing (parent company of The Gallery Collection), who sponsored my embed, was also in the loop. Though you didn't know it at the time, as we were keeping it low key, those of you who contributed to my embed fund were also a part of this.

But what were you a part of? Watch this video:

and then watch the updated version:

And then read this post by Blackfive. In short, the story that lay beyond that initial message were six soldiers who gave their lives in the just cause of freedom -- and a mother who grieved and desired not merely to have something that meant a lot to her son, but to continue something he had started as a way to remember and honor him and those who fell with him.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to stay in touch with Rinda Pope this last year. It has been a true joy to see how much having DJ-the-no-longer-puppy has meant to her, and to her family. Over this last year, via e-mails and photos I've seen both change and grow. In DJ's case, that growth has been quite literal, moving up to (and past I think) 50 pounds of "our crazy Irai puppy." Of DJ's first visit to the beach and the ocean, of Linda's cheerful decision to invest in a steam cleaner because of housebreaking difficulties, and all the things that those owned by dogs come to know and love.

A couple of snippets I will share:

DJ is great, 7 months old on June 1st. She is very happy and active. She has my other son Roger's dog to play with most days. Roger brings his dog "Boogie" to my house while he works. DJ had fallen in our small fish pond a couple times. I guess Boogie knocked her in, Once when she first got here and another time when she was big enough to stand in the pond. She was cold and wet, but not harmed. She likes to eat my plastic turtles which used to be around the pond. And she is chewing up anything not nailed down. Her favorite trick is after a family meal and everyone is not looking is to get up on the table and find left-overs, LOL. She is very good being on a leash, I take her for a walk before I leave for work most mornings.

In case you didn't know, more of Alex's remains were identified and were escorted by Sgt Marion from Fort Hood to my home last month. It was great hearing more "Alex stories" from Sgt. Marion.

DJ the Baghdad pup turned a year old on the 1st of November, she is the cutest little stinker that loves me to pieces. Thank you Blake, John and Matt and so many more, for your kindness and hard work getting her to me. The story was published in the Ultimate Dog Lovers book, at your local bookstore now. I saw the book yesterday at Barnes and Noble, thank you Carrie!

Its been a another long but short year. It's like yesterday I got D.J. and that I lost my Alex... Everyone will be missing him again this year for Christmas, but we always remember his laughter and funny things he would say and do. He always wore a santa hat and helped decorate the tree... He loved life and wasn't afraid to live it. I am trying to live life like that too.

If you are out there wondering if you made a difference last year (Soldiers and Marines really never have to wonder, but...), and you contributed to our efforts or Soldier's Angels, you did. You did good.

In Memoriam:

Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore, 28, of Alpaugh, Calif.
Sgt. Jean P. Medlin, 27, of Pelham, Ala.
Spc. David W. Behrle, 20, of Tipton, Iowa.
Spc. Joseph A. Gilmore, 26, of Webster, Fla.
Pfc. Travis F. Haslip, 20, of Ooltewah, Tenn.
Pfc. Alexander R. Varela, 19, of Fernley, Nev.

1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas

Godspeed gentlemen. And Godspeed Spc. Travis Dowd, DJ's namesake.

Thank you all for making this possible, and my special thanks to 1st Platoon for hospitality and being willing to share. To Rinda go special thanks, for staying in touch and letting us know how both she and DJ are doing.

LW

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What A Difference A Year Makes: Operation Puppy Love

It has been a year and two days I do believe, since I met DJ the puppy. DJ came into my life just days before my departure to spend Christmas in Iraq last year. The photo above was then, and the photo below is now:

DJ came into the lives of Team Blackfive via a request to Gryphon Airlines from Lt. Tom. His request only hinted at what was going on, and what had gone on. Even before we had that, we knew that this was something we were going to make happen.

Because it was so close to my departure, we had to move fast.

Soldier's Angels was onboard from the start, and made it possible to go to the PetSmart in Lafayette, IN to obtain the airline travel crate and contents required. It was with their help of the people at PetSmart that we got the right size crate, with the right ratings, and all the supplies for food and water that the airline required for flight. On top of it all, once they knew the story, that store donated chew toys to the effort. Prudent Publishing (parent company of The Gallery Collection), who sponsored my embed, was also in the loop. Though you didn't know it at the time, as we were keeping it low key, those of you who contributed to my embed fund were also a part of this.

But what were you a part of? Watch this video:

and then watch the updated version:

And then read this post by Blackfive. In short, the story that lay beyond that initial message were six soldiers who gave their lives in the just cause of freedom -- and a mother who grieved and desired not merely to have something that meant a lot to her son, but to continue something he had started as a way to remember and honor him and those who fell with him.

It has been a pleasure and an honor to stay in touch with Rinda Pope this last year. It has been a true joy to see how much having DJ-the-no-longer-puppy has meant to her, and to her family. Over this last year, via e-mails and photos I've seen both change and grow. In DJ's case, that growth has been quite literal, moving up to (and past I think) 50 pounds of "our crazy Irai puppy." Of DJ's first visit to the beach and the ocean, of Linda's cheerful decision to invest in a steam cleaner because of housebreaking difficulties, and all the things that those owned by dogs come to know and love.

A couple of snippets I will share:

DJ is great, 7 months old on June 1st. She is very happy and active. She has my other son Roger's dog to play with most days. Roger brings his dog "Boogie" to my house while he works. DJ had fallen in our small fish pond a couple times. I guess Boogie knocked her in, Once when she first got here and another time when she was big enough to stand in the pond. She was cold and wet, but not harmed. She likes to eat my plastic turtles which used to be around the pond. And she is chewing up anything not nailed down. Her favorite trick is after a family meal and everyone is not looking is to get up on the table and find left-overs, LOL. She is very good being on a leash, I take her for a walk before I leave for work most mornings.

In case you didn't know, more of Alex's remains were identified and were escorted by Sgt Marion from Fort Hood to my home last month. It was great hearing more "Alex stories" from Sgt. Marion.

DJ the Baghdad pup turned a year old on the 1st of November, she is the cutest little stinker that loves me to pieces. Thank you Blake, John and Matt and so many more, for your kindness and hard work getting her to me. The story was published in the Ultimate Dog Lovers book, at your local bookstore now. I saw the book yesterday at Barnes and Noble, thank you Carrie!

Its been a another long but short year. It's like yesterday I got D.J. and that I lost my Alex... Everyone will be missing him again this year for Christmas, but we always remember his laughter and funny things he would say and do. He always wore a santa hat and helped decorate the tree... He loved life and wasn't afraid to live it. I am trying to live life like that too.

If you are out there wondering if you made a difference last year (Soldiers and Marines really never have to wonder, but...), and you contributed to our efforts or Soldier's Angels, you did. You did good.

In Memoriam:

Staff Sgt. Christopher Moore, 28, of Alpaugh, Calif.
Sgt. Jean P. Medlin, 27, of Pelham, Ala.
Spc. David W. Behrle, 20, of Tipton, Iowa.
Spc. Joseph A. Gilmore, 26, of Webster, Fla.
Pfc. Travis F. Haslip, 20, of Ooltewah, Tenn.
Pfc. Alexander R. Varela, 19, of Fernley, Nev.

1st Platoon, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas

Godspeed gentlemen. And Godspeed Spc. Travis Dowd, DJ's namesake.

Thank you all for making this possible, and my special thanks to 1st Platoon for hospitality and being willing to share. To Rinda go special thanks, for staying in touch and letting us know how both she and DJ are doing.

LW

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