6016...A Marine And His Dog

The Associated Press has a touching story out of mid America.  Madison, Wisconsin's Marine Sgt. Ross Gundlach served as a dog handler in Afghanistan and like many of us he both bonded with and talked to his puppy.   "He told the explosives-detecting yellow Labrador retriever that was his constant companion that he would look her up when he returned home."




That he did.  He found out that Casey had finished her commitment in Afghanistan and upon returning to the States she had been sent to the Iowa State Fire Marshal's Office, where she was being used to detect explosives. 

"Gundlach wrote to State Fire Marshal's Division Director Ray Reynolds, explaining the connection that he felt with the dog. He even has a tattoo on his right forearm depicting Casey with angel wings and a halo, sitting at the foot of a Marine."

Director Reynolds turtled and "...decided to arrange a surprise. First, he got in touch with the Iowa Elks Association, which agreed to donate $8,500 to buy another dog for the agency."  Then he tricked Sgt. Gundlach into coming to Iowa's capital of Des Moines on the pre text of having to plead his case in front of a committee.

When the Sgt. and his folks showed up in the capital's State  Capitol they were told there was a delay, directed to the rotunda where "...Gov. Terry Branstad officially retired Casey..." and gave him to Sgt. Gundlach.  

Not a dry eye in the house.

WFDS