Lex (dog)

{{short description|Military dog}} {{Infobox military person | name = Lex | image = Dustin J. Lee with Lex in Iraq.jpg | caption = Dustin Lee and Lex in Iraq | alt = A black and tan German Shepherd dog sits next to a Marine atop a HECO barrier with a MTVR in the background. Lex is holding a red Kong toy in his mouth while Lee is wearing sunglasses and fire-resistant coveralls open to his waist. | birth_date = 1999 | death_date = {{death date and age|2012|3|25|1999}} | burial_label = | burial_place = | birth_place = Lackland AFB, Texas | death_place = Starkville, Mississippi | burial_coordinates =  | nickname = | allegiance = United States | branch = United States Marine Corps | service_years = 2002–2007 | rank = SSG | service_number = E132 | unit = MCLB Albany | commands = | battles = Iraq War {{WIA}} | battles_label = | awards = honorary Purple Heart | relations = | other_work = therapy dog }}

'''Lex''' (1999 – March 25, 2012) was a German Shepherd military working dog who served with the United States Marine Corps and became the first active-duty, fully fit military dog to be granted early retirement for adoption. Lex was wounded in Iraq in an attack that killed his handler, Corporal Dustin J. Lee. He later became a therapy dog and received an honorary Purple Heart.

==Military working dog== Lex and Corporal Lee were stationed in the military police department at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. Lex had previously deployed to Iraq with a different handler. Lee had adopted his earlier retired working dog, Doenja. <ref name=MSNBC>{{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}}</ref> In November 2006, Lex and Lee were deployed to Iraq as an explosive detection and patrol team for the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, part of Regimental Combat Team 6.<ref name=foxnewsadopt/><ref name=kennel/> On March 21, 2007, while stationed at a Forward Operating Base in Iraq, they were struck by a 73 mm SPG-9 rocket attack. Lee was mortally wounded, and Lex sustained shrapnel injuries.<ref name=kennel/> Despite his own wounds, Lex refused to leave Lee's side and had to be pulled away so corpsmen and other medics could attend to his handler.<ref name=AKC/> Lex returned to the U.S. in April and underwent a 12-week rehabilitation at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune eventually returning to full duty at MCLB Albany. Some shrapnel remained embedded in his back, but veterinarians decided not to remove it to avoid spinal damage.

==Adoption== {{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}} Following Lee's death, his parents, Jerome and Rachel Lee, campaigned to adopt Lex. With support from Congressman Walter B. Jones and national media attention, the family launched a petition that brought widespread awareness to their request. <ref name=petition>[https://retirelex.blogspot.com/ Petition to adopt Lex]</ref> 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.<ref name="CSPAN">{{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}}</ref> 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}}<ref name="WP Dana">{{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}}</ref>), 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.<ref name="DoD law">{{cite web|url=http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=14989|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150705055505/http://www.defense.gov/News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=14989|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 5, 2015|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}}</ref><ref name="AFSPA">{{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}}</ref> The legal provision was enacted and Lex was released from active service to be adopted by the Lee family.<ref name=foxnewsadopt>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref name="PH">{{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}}</ref> On September 24, 2008, the American Kennel Club announced that Lex won the seventh Law Enforcement AKC Award for Canine Excellence.<ref name=AKC>{{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}}</ref> On March 19, 2010, MCLB Albany's base dog kennel was named in honor of Lee, with Lex in attendance.<ref name=kennel>{{cite web|url=https://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}}</ref>

==Post-Service Life== After adoption, Lex visited VA hospitals to comfort wounded veterans, becoming a symbol of resilience and healing. He received a commemorative Purple Heart from the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #566 on February 16, 2008, at Eglin Air Force Base. Later that year, the American Kennel Club honored Lex with the Law Enforcement AKC Award for Canine Excellence.

On March 19, 2010, the dog kennel at MCLB Albany was named in Corporal Lee's honor, with Lex present at the dedication.

Despite continued treatment, Lex struggled with mobility issues due to approximately 50 pieces of shrapnel still lodged in his body. In November 2010, he began stem cell regenerative therapy at Georgetown Veterinary Hospital with support from the Humane Society and Congressman Ed Whitfield.

==Death==

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

==Gallery== <gallery> 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:Jerome Lee and Lex after the adoption.jpg|Jerome Lee and Lex at 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 </gallery>

==See also== {{Commons category|Marine K9 Lex}}

*Dogs in warfare *List of individual dogs *Military animal

==References== www.sunherald.com/2012/04/20/3895746/slain-marines-service-dog-dies.html {{Marine Corps}} {{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}}

==External links== *[https://remembercpldustinlee.blogspot.com/ Memorial website for Lee] *[https://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}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lex (Dog)}} Category:1999 animal births Category:2012 animal deaths Category:Animals of the United States Marine Corps Category:Detection dogs Category:German shepherds Category:Individual dogs in the United States Category:United States Marine Corps in the Iraq War Category:Deaths from cancer in Mississippi Category:Animal deaths from cancer