Posted on 10/19/2005 9:49:19 PM PDT by saquin
Laurel lawyer John E. Smathers, a captain in the Army Reserve, returned from a year in Iraq with a broken arm, a wrecked knee and a chest full of medals.
During his tour, Smathers helped thwart a bank robbery and assisted in recovering stolen Iraqi artwork. He survived an ambush and a high-speed auto crash.
After a 17-month quest to bring his adopted dog from Iraq to Maryland, Capt. John E. Smathers was reunited with Scout in late August at Dulles International Airport. Scout had acted as a watchdog for Smathers's Army Reserve unit, above, in Iraq. After a 17-month quest to bring his adopted dog from Iraq to Maryland, Capt. John E. Smathers was reunited with Scout in late August at Dulles International Airport. Scout had acted as a watchdog for Smathers's Army Reserve unit, above, in Iraq. (By Michael Robinson-chavez -- The Washington Post)
But when he got back in March 2004, he was determined to complete a final mission: to rescue Scout, a dog he and other soldiers had adopted, from the increasingly bloody streets of Baghdad and bring him to his Howard County home. Scout was resolute, loyal. So was Smathers.
For 17 months, Smathers engaged in a campaign that involved intelligence gathering, secret Iraqi contacts and a foiled border-crossing into Jordan.
Finally, in late August, Scout was driven some 280 miles from Baghdad to Basra, where he was delivered to a British woman who runs an animal shelter in Kuwait.
Within days, Scout was on the tarmac at Dulles International Airport, where he was met by Smathers, dressed in desert camouflage so the dog would recognize him. Scout scampered out of his cage and went straight to Smathers, resting at his feet.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
(GS pinglist?)
Thanks for the ping!
I love stories like this, thanks for posting...
Thank you both for the article and the ping.
What a great tale of love and loyalty. 'Scuse me, got somethin' in mah eyes...
I love this article. Be sure and read the entire thing
Bttt 4 all doglovers......
Stories like this really make my day ......thank you...
I loved this story. I wish there were more happy endings like this.
Good Dog
Good Story
"Within days, Scout was on the tarmac at Dulles International Airport, where he was met by Smathers, dressed in desert camouflage so the dog would recognize him. Scout scampered out of his cage and went straight to Smathers, resting at his feet."
Thanks, Calpernia, for the ping to the story!
There are many of these happy endings, the dog "OPSEC" included as mentioned in a prior post and more photos of Scout.
visit:
www.militarymascots.org
Wow. Thanks for that url.
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