Yesterday I got a call from the Star Ledger in New Jersey. We do not commonly get calls from small papers, it is usually the New York Times, Associated Press, Reuters or LA Times. This reporter opened the conversation by saying she was surprised is was 10 p.m. and we were still working. I assured her we conduct 24 hour operations so she can feel free to call at any time when she is working on a story. Her question was: "What sort of trouble would a service member could get into for a violation of General Order Number 1?"
She told me she was doing a story on dogs. A group of Marines who are finishing their tour of duty in the Anbar Province had adopted some puppies when they first arrived a year and half ago. When they redeployed to the states they wanted to take their dogs, who had become a part of their "families", with them. The problem was, General Order #1 clearly states service members are not authorized to even so much as feed animals, let alone adopt them and take them home.
Well, give a Soldier or Marine a challenge and he will find a way to defeat your rule and this is just what had happened. They had coordinated with the ASPCA who had contracted with a private shipping company to get the dogs home. The dogs were flown out of the commercial side of Baghdad International Airport down to Dubai, where they were then flown to Paris, on to London, and finally to New Jersey where they will be picked up this morning. The cost ended up at nearly $4000 per dog, paid by the Marines, with added contributions made by friends back home.
The story has become quite a sensation in New Jersey, attracting the attention of lawmakers who are supporting their service members quest to get their pets home. And of course what is a better photo opportunity than to get your picture taken with a group of Marines coming home from 1 1/2 years of fighting in the desert who saved their money and found a way to bring thier loyal Iraq companions home with them.
She told me she was doing a story on dogs. A group of Marines who are finishing their tour of duty in the Anbar Province had adopted some puppies when they first arrived a year and half ago. When they redeployed to the states they wanted to take their dogs, who had become a part of their "families", with them. The problem was, General Order #1 clearly states service members are not authorized to even so much as feed animals, let alone adopt them and take them home.
Well, give a Soldier or Marine a challenge and he will find a way to defeat your rule and this is just what had happened. They had coordinated with the ASPCA who had contracted with a private shipping company to get the dogs home. The dogs were flown out of the commercial side of Baghdad International Airport down to Dubai, where they were then flown to Paris, on to London, and finally to New Jersey where they will be picked up this morning. The cost ended up at nearly $4000 per dog, paid by the Marines, with added contributions made by friends back home.
The story has become quite a sensation in New Jersey, attracting the attention of lawmakers who are supporting their service members quest to get their pets home. And of course what is a better photo opportunity than to get your picture taken with a group of Marines coming home from 1 1/2 years of fighting in the desert who saved their money and found a way to bring thier loyal Iraq companions home with them.
These are not the first dogs adopted and brought home by Marines returning from war. The famous Rin Tin Tin was the first known "adopted" pet brought home by loving Soldiers. The movie star German Shepherd returned from World War I with a group of "Doughboys" who had taken him in and cared for him while they fought in the trenches of France. Much like the Marines in Anbar, the men simply could not leave their battle companion behind.
So what did I tell the reporter. Yes, General Order 1 does say soldiers cannot have pets, but it is at the discetion of the individual commander to enforce these rules. I told her that while good order and discipline are important, so is morale. Many commanders err on the side of supporting that morale though it may mean breaking a rule or two. Look at the result, you have a happy group of soldiers who have concluded their tour of duty by yet another good deed.
So what did I tell the reporter. Yes, General Order 1 does say soldiers cannot have pets, but it is at the discetion of the individual commander to enforce these rules. I told her that while good order and discipline are important, so is morale. Many commanders err on the side of supporting that morale though it may mean breaking a rule or two. Look at the result, you have a happy group of soldiers who have concluded their tour of duty by yet another good deed.
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