Lex (dog)

Lee and Lex were stationed in the military police department at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, with Lex having deployed to Iraq previously with a different handler. Lee had adopted his previous canine, Doenja, after the dog was retired.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna22226183|title=Bomb-sniffing dog granted early retirement|date=December 13, 2007|agency=Associated Press|publisher=NBC News.com|access-date=9 April 2010}} They were detached to deploy in late November 2006 as an explosive detection and patrol team for 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, then part of Regimental Combat Team 6. On March 21, 2007, while at a Forward Operating Base in Iraq, they were hit by a 73 mm SPG-9 rocket attack. Lee was mortally wounded, while Lex sustained shrapnel wounds. Despite his own wounds, Lex refused to leave Lee and had to be dragged away for corpsmen and other medics to attempt treatment. After returning to the United States in April, he fully recovered from his wounds at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune after a twelve-week rehabilitation. He returned to MCLB Albany on July 6 in a full working capacity, although some shrapnel remained lodged in his back, which veterinarians did not remove to avoid causing permanent damage to his spine.

{{quote box|width=40%|We are proud to have had Lex serve alongside Marines here and around the world. His handlers and his sacrifices will not be forgotten. I am glad to be able to support the Lee family, not just in the adoption of Lex, but also to reestablish their connection to their beloved son Dustin.|Col Christian N. Haliday, CO of MCLB Albany}}

Lee’s parents, Jerome and Rachel Lee, appealed to the military to adopt Lex. An online petition[http://retirelex.blogspot.com/ Petition to adopt Lex] was created by Lee's family, and the case gained national media attention. Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina's 3rd congressional district (which includes Camp Lejeune) assisted the Lee family with the release and adoption of Lex.{{cite web|url=http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/220036|title=Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina 3rd District Lobbys for Lex on the House Floor|publisher=C-SPAN|access-date=9 April 2010|archive-date=20 March 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320020908/http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/220036|url-status=dead}} Although the United States armed forces do not generally release military working dogs prior to retirement age due to certain requirements (due to {{USC|10|2583}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/19/AR2005111901449.html|title=Wounded Sergeant Fights for a 'Best Friend'|last=St. George|first=Donna|date=November 20, 2005 |newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=9 April 2010}}), there existed a provision to existing law that allows for early retirement of dogs under certain situations, created to allow a wounded Air Force dog handler to adopt her partner before retirement in 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/id/14989/|title=Military Heroes, Families Respond to State of Union Message|last=Miles|first=Donna|date=February 1, 2006 |publisher=United States Department of Defense|access-date=9 April 2010}}{{cite web|url=http://www.afspaeagle.org/Proud_Warrior/PW_jamie_dana.htm|title=Proud Warrior TSgt Jamie Dana|work=Eagle Chapter|publisher=Air Force Security Police Association|access-date=9 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100812004427/http://www.afspaeagle.org/Proud_Warrior/PW_jamie_dana.htm|archive-date=12 August 2010}} The legal provision was enacted and Lex was released from active service to be adopted by the Lee family.{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/family-to-adopt-slain-marines-dog-partner|agency=Associated Press|publisher=FOXNews.com|title=Family to Adopt Slain Marine's Dog|date=December 12, 2007|access-date=9 April 2010}}

Headquarters Marine Corps made a formal request to the Air Force working dog program managers at Lackland Air Force Base in November, which was approved on December 6. Lex was released from five years of active service and turned over to the Lee family at a ceremony at MCLB Albany on December 21, 2007, under national media spotlight. He was 8 years old at the time. Afterward, Lex began to visit VA hospitals to comfort wounded veterans and assist in their recovery process. On February 16, 2008, the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #566 presented Lex with a commemorative Purple Heart at a ceremony held at the Air Force Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base.{{cite web|url=http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/14802151.html|title=Lex to Receive Purple Heart|date=January 29, 2008|publisher=WTOk.com|access-date=9 April 2010|archive-date=19 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110519084927/http://www.wtok.com/news/headlines/14802151.html|url-status=dead}} On September 24, 2008, the American Kennel Club announced that Lex won the seventh Law Enforcement AKC Award for Canine Excellence.{{cite news|access-date=9 April 2010|url=http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3607|date=September 24, 2008|title=AKC Honors Outstanding Dogs with 2008 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)|work=AKC News|publisher=American Kennel Club}} On March 19, 2010, MCLB Albany's base dog kennel was named in honor of Lee, with Lex in attendance.{{cite web|url=http://www.marines.mil/unit/mclbalbany/pages/2010/032510/BasekenneldedicatedtofallenMarine.aspx|title=Base kennel dedicated to fallen Marine|last=Webb|first=Jason M.|date=March 25, 2010|publisher=United States Marine Corps|access-date=8 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100411090806/http://www.marines.mil/unit/mclbalbany/pages/2010/032510/BasekenneldedicatedtofallenMarine.aspx|archive-date=11 April 2010}}

After his adoption, Lex struggled with mobility issues due to his injuries and approximately 50 pieces of shrapnel that remain in his body, despite treatment at Mississippi State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. On November 16, 2010, Lex began treatment at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital with a course of Vet-Stem stem cell regenerative therapy, with assistance from the Humane Society of the United States and Kentucky Congressman Ed Whitfield.{{cite web|url=http://www.georgetowner.com/articles/2010/nov/19/canine-veteran/|title=Georgetown Vet Aims to Heal War Wounds|last=Nyczepir|first=Dave|date=November 19, 2010|publisher=The Georgetowner|access-date=24 November 2010}}

Lex died on March 25, 2012, as a result of cancer.

{{Cleanup gallery|date=April 2010}}

File:Marine K9 Lex at handler's graveside.jpg|Lex at Lee's grave

File:L 56c39c73dc7199aa3cae5989d1631299.jpg|Banner at Lex's adoption ceremony

File:CBS interviews the Lee Family and Marine Corps officials.jpg|CBS News interviews the Lee family and Marine officials at Lex's adoption ceremony

File:Marine Corps Police Department Officer Reynolds prepares to turn over Lex.jpg|Police Officer Reynolds prepares to turn over Lex to the Lee family

File:Jerome Lee receives Lex at MCLB Albany.jpg|Jerome Lee receives Lex at the adoption ceremony

File:Jerome Lee and Lex after the adoption.jpg|Jerome Lee and Lex at the adoption ceremony

File:Jerome Lee plays with Lex after the adoption.jpg|Jerome Lee plays with Lex after the adoption ceremony

File:The Lee children are in the media spotlight as they play with Lex after the adoption.jpg|The Lee children play with Lex after the adoption ceremony

File:The Lee family enjoys Lex after the adoption.jpg|The Lee family with Lex after the adoption ceremony

File:Marine K9 Lex with Purple Heart.jpg|Lex awarded an honorary Purple Heart

File:Kosiusko2008 5.jpg|Jerome Lee and Lex meet with World War II veterans

{{Commons category|Marine K9 Lex}}

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www.sunherald.com/2012/04/20/3895746/slain-marines-service-dog-dies.html

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{{Reflist|2}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/12/13/slainmarine.sdog.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch|title= Marines let dog go to slain handlers' family|agency=Associated Press|date=December 13, 2007|publisher=CNN|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116000316/http://www.cnn.com/2007/LIVING/12/13/slainmarine.sdog.ap/index.html?iref=newssearch|archive-date = 16 January 2008}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/21/marine.dog/index.html#cnnSTCText|title=Iraq war dog to retire with fallen Marine's family|last=Dornin|first=Rusty|date=December 21, 2007|publisher=CNN.com|access-date=9 April 2010}} Video by Mike Phelan: http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/21/marine.dog/index.html#cnnSTCVideo

{{Refend}}

• [http://remembercpldustinlee.blogspot.com/ Memorial website for Lee]
• [http://mwdk9support.blogspot.com/ Lex receives his commemorative Purple Heart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161004081035/http://mwdk9support.blogspot.com/ |date=2016-10-04 }}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080509162619/http://www.militaryworkingdogmemorial.com/ Military Working Dog Memorial]**{{cite web|url=http://militaryworkingdogmemorial.com/dustylex.html|title=Lex's Story: My Partner Dustin|last=Burnam|first=John C.|access-date=9 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100831023413/http://militaryworkingdogmemorial.com/dustylex.html|archive-date=31 August 2010}}

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