Of dogs and soldiers: Kopelman book heart-warming
Of all the books I've read lately, majority, Isabel Allende; Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman has along with co-writer, Melinda Roth, managed to convey the horrors of the war in Iraq while telling the touching story of a man who fell in love. In fact, he tells of a whole group of men who fell in love, the Lava Dogs, who took in a stray puppy despite regulations strongly forbidding such activity.
His fierce loyalty to the animal and the animal's loyalty to him and the American troops who sheltered him and cared for him, betrays the hard heart of the "Marine" and exposes the deepest secrets of semper fi and more. The Lt. Col. tapped into all his friends from NPR reporter Anne Garrels to an Iraqi veteranarian, an Iraqi driver who risks his life, an Iraqi working within the camp, and many, many others who delivered the puppy after a long and grueling, anxiety ridden trip from Baghdad to La Jolla, CA.
Great risk was involved in keeping the dog, named Lava, out of harm's way. Aside from the story of Lava and one man's great love for him, is the harsh story of war. For once, we get the story straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Never have we heard the likes of such truth. All the soldiers I know who have rotated back to the States after their tours of duty, refused to speak of Iraq. One Major, I dated, and found myself hurt and wounded when he could not make a connection with me. I could not understand his bizarre post-Iraq behavior.
After reading Kopelman's graphic and poignant piece, I now understand my friend's anguish and lack of ability to reorient himself so suddenly finding himself back in the States and safety. I believe he felt guilty for being safe, comfortable, and useless to the cause that was ingrained within him. He was a soldier first, a regular man with the ability to love, second; even, last.
Lt. Col. Kopelman's story is a must-read for anyone wondering what it is really like in Iraq. I hope we can appreciate what has been done, though at the same time, question the real reasons we have sent our loved ones there. Kopelman does not leave the reader believing all will be well, or that the Iraqis will anytime be able to govern themselves.
"A total of 196 political parties and 33 coalitions representing more than 18,900 candidates," make haste, according to Kopelman, to get on the ballot when the election went down. Candidates, once registered received death threats, "almost immediately," said the author. Beheadings are common, and anything or anyone can be used as a bomb. Iraqis working for the Americans are terrified, he said, and rightly so.
At any rate, this blog is to direct your attention to this unusual read. Copyright 2006 by Lyons Press.
His fierce loyalty to the animal and the animal's loyalty to him and the American troops who sheltered him and cared for him, betrays the hard heart of the "Marine" and exposes the deepest secrets of semper fi and more. The Lt. Col. tapped into all his friends from NPR reporter Anne Garrels to an Iraqi veteranarian, an Iraqi driver who risks his life, an Iraqi working within the camp, and many, many others who delivered the puppy after a long and grueling, anxiety ridden trip from Baghdad to La Jolla, CA.
Great risk was involved in keeping the dog, named Lava, out of harm's way. Aside from the story of Lava and one man's great love for him, is the harsh story of war. For once, we get the story straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. Never have we heard the likes of such truth. All the soldiers I know who have rotated back to the States after their tours of duty, refused to speak of Iraq. One Major, I dated, and found myself hurt and wounded when he could not make a connection with me. I could not understand his bizarre post-Iraq behavior.
After reading Kopelman's graphic and poignant piece, I now understand my friend's anguish and lack of ability to reorient himself so suddenly finding himself back in the States and safety. I believe he felt guilty for being safe, comfortable, and useless to the cause that was ingrained within him. He was a soldier first, a regular man with the ability to love, second; even, last.
Lt. Col. Kopelman's story is a must-read for anyone wondering what it is really like in Iraq. I hope we can appreciate what has been done, though at the same time, question the real reasons we have sent our loved ones there. Kopelman does not leave the reader believing all will be well, or that the Iraqis will anytime be able to govern themselves.
"A total of 196 political parties and 33 coalitions representing more than 18,900 candidates," make haste, according to Kopelman, to get on the ballot when the election went down. Candidates, once registered received death threats, "almost immediately," said the author. Beheadings are common, and anything or anyone can be used as a bomb. Iraqis working for the Americans are terrified, he said, and rightly so.
At any rate, this blog is to direct your attention to this unusual read. Copyright 2006 by Lyons Press.
posted by Parris Whooo? @ 5:51 PM
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