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A War Dog's Faithful Friend
Washington Post ^
| 10/20/2005
| Ruben Castaneda
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 ...
TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: doggieping; dogs; dogsofwar; iraq; workingdogs
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1
posted on
10/19/2005 9:49:19 PM PDT
by
saquin
2
posted on
10/19/2005 9:50:49 PM PDT
by
saquin
To: saquin
One of the NG guys I worked with in BIAP got to take his dog home with him. It's name is OPSEC.
3
posted on
10/19/2005 9:54:24 PM PDT
by
wingnutx
(tanstaafl)
To: Calpernia; Former Military Chick
4
posted on
10/19/2005 9:54:57 PM PDT
by
TruthNtegrity
("I regret that by Saturday I didn't realize that LA was dysfunctional." Michael Brown, 9/27/05)
To: HairOfTheDog
5
posted on
10/19/2005 9:55:26 PM PDT
by
FairOpinion
(CA Props: Vote for Reform: YES on 73-78, NO on 79 & 80, NO on Y)
To: saquin
awwwwww, jeez..... I love these stories!
6
posted on
10/19/2005 9:58:52 PM PDT
by
wigswest
To: saquin
Man's best friend. Good to see stories of the reverse also!
To: saquin
8
posted on
10/19/2005 10:02:36 PM PDT
by
HiTech RedNeck
(No wonder the Southern Baptist Church threw Greer out: Only one god per church! [Ann Coulter])
To: saquin
We never leave a friend behind.
To: saquin; FairOpinion
Earning medals under fire in Iraq Salute! 
U.S. Army Capt. Kevin Guidry, and Capt. John Smathers, 422nd Civil Affairs Battalion, talk to an Iraqi boy.
422nd Civil Affairs Battalion Quick Reaction Team (Capt. John Smathers incl.) uncover a cache of Russian-made surface-to-air missiles in downtown Baghdad. Photos at DefendAmerica.com
10
posted on
10/19/2005 10:17:36 PM PDT
by
endthematrix
(Those who despise freedom and progress have condemned themselves to isolation, decline, and collapse)
To: saquin; HairOfTheDog
Thanks for this great article! Ping for your list, HOTD.
11
posted on
10/20/2005 5:46:19 AM PDT
by
alwaysconservative
(Give a man a fish & he eats for a day; teach him to surf the net & he'll never bother you again)
To: saquin; Flyer; technochick99; sinkspur; annyokie; Scott from the Left Coast; 88keys; DugwayDuke; ...
12
posted on
10/20/2005 6:31:46 AM PDT
by
HairOfTheDog
(Join the Hobbit Hole Troop Support - http://freeper.the-hobbit-hole.net/)
To: HairOfTheDog
A big
WOOF!
for a big war dog from a little hunting dog . . .
13
posted on
10/20/2005 6:38:27 AM PDT
by
AnAmericanMother
(. . . Ministrix of ye Chace (recess appointment), TTGC Ladies' Auxiliary . . .)
To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; maestro; TEXOKIE; My back yard; djreece; ...
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. 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.
14
posted on
10/20/2005 6:48:32 AM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: ducks1944; Ragtime Cowgirl; Alamo-Girl; TrueBeliever9; maestro; TEXOKIE; My back yard; djreece; ...
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. 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.
15
posted on
10/20/2005 6:49:26 AM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: Calpernia
sorry for the double ping. FR is slowing down again. Going to bump the Molasses thread from yesterday again. Maybe Jim or John can give the server a good kick again.
16
posted on
10/20/2005 6:50:45 AM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: TruthNtegrity
17
posted on
10/20/2005 6:51:23 AM PDT
by
Calpernia
(Breederville.com)
To: saquin
Stuff like this makes my eyes water. ~sigh~ I'm getting to be such an emotional schmuck in my old age....
18
posted on
10/20/2005 7:02:55 AM PDT
by
ExSoldier
(Democracy is 2 wolves and a lamb voting on dinner. Liberty is a well armed lamb contesting the vote.)
To: saquin
Love it, now I have to go hug my two German Shepherds. One is quite and extremely loving the other is noisy and extremely loving. They send Scout a paw and lick of thank you for watching out for our Military.
19
posted on
10/20/2005 7:07:46 AM PDT
by
Dustbunny
(Main Stream Media -- Making 'Max Headroom' a reality.)
To: saquin
Tears! And this is a very local guy to me, too!
My GS sends her good wishes and blessings, and thanks! (She also selfishly prays for half the guard ability of Scout!)
20
posted on
10/20/2005 7:20:16 AM PDT
by
the OlLine Rebel
(Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
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