From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a Dog Named Lava

Jay Kopelman & Melinda Roth
The Lyons Press (2006)
ISBN 1592289800
Reviewed by Joanne Benham for Reader Views (8/06)

In November, 2004, members of the First Battalion, Third Marines found a puppy abandoned in a house in Fallujah, which was destroyed by the war.  There was something special about this puppy, so special that a whole battalion of Marines would disobey direct orders to destroy any animals found in the country and take enormous risks to try and bring this one little guy back to the United States. 

The story of Lava was picked up by reporters from the NPR, then it flashed across the Internet and caught the attention of newspapers across the country.  The push was on to save Lava, as he was named. 

Working with an organization called Military Mascots, Kopelman begins the long four month fight to cut through the bureaucratic red tape.  This story outlines the behind-the-scenes scrambling that was necessary to save the life of one little war orphan. Assisted by Iraqi citizens, the Military, NPR reporters and numerous others, Lava finally lands on US soil, ready to begin his new life. 

 The book deals honestly with the hard question asked by many people about why so much time, energy and money was spent on a dog when there are so many people in need. 

A fascinating look at the day-to-day life of soldiers fighting for their country, who discover a little bit of hope and love in a dismal time and place.

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