Never discount what a pup means to a soldier.
View attachment 7907673 I had my girl Socks on my last deployment to Iraq.
Just a stray who wandered into the motorpool one day.
She was my salvation, my connection to reality... to sanity... to home.
Had her for 5 wonderful months.
The Chaplin, even put me in contact with a lady who was down in Kuwait, so I could get her shipped home.
She disappeared once for 3 days. Was filthy, and starving upon her return.
Later on, she disappeared again. This time for almost 2 weeks. She was brought back from Anaconda with a PFC from 3rd Plt who recognized her. "That's Socks, Sgt Maximus's dog."
About a month later, she disappeared for good. I never saw her again. It was the most devastating time I ever had... on any deployment. Especially after I got blowed up, taken off missions, and stuck on base as Sgt of the guard. Fun-ass job overseeing the gun towers for two months... Had to beg to get back on the road.
Just before we rotated back, I learned why all that happened.
The "no pet rule". (despite them having a cat at the TOC crawling all over the computers)
I would leave her when I went on missions... I THOUGHT to keep her safe.
What I didn't know was nobody else was looking after her in my absence.
She would cry at night, and bother people.
The SGM Got pissed, and decided to get rid of her.
First time, he sent guys out in the desert to drop her off. She found her way home to me.
Second time he gave her to a passing unit, who took her to Anaconda, where she was recognized by on of our own people. One who was faithful to me.
Last time... he had her shot while I was out on a mission.
I almost went to Leavenworth that day...
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