From Baghdad, With Love, Reading Response

        From Baghdad, With Love by Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman and Melinda Roth is a miraculous (and true) story of how a "man's best friend" became the mission, of many people living in Iraq during the time, to get back to the United States.  Jay Kopelman and the U.S. Marines were fighting in Fallujah, Iraq when they found an extremely lovable puppy, which soon became known as Lava.  The story shows how most everyone in Kopelman's camp took care of Lava by feeding him Meals Ready to Eat (MRE's) and allowing him to sleep in their boots and sleeping bags.  They suffered through the often chewed up boots and 'peed on' uniforms.  The soldiers kept Lava even though there were major rules against keeping an animal in case of unwanted attachment. Though through tons of failed plans, connections (like Iams as a sponsor), and close calls, Jay Kopelman and many others managed to get this hyper fur ball safely back to the U.S. to reunite with his owner, Kopelman, who had been sent back to America just a few months before.

          I really enjoyed reading this book because, for one thing, I love dogs, and I had heard of organizations that were trying to get U.S. soldiers' dogs/war companions back home.  I loved and was a little surprised to see that so many people risked their lives for Lava.  This book described the battle going on in Fallujah and how terrible it was.  Though Kopelman and his dog survived.  Another reason I loved this book was that the true emotion displayed for this dog was amazing.  A fighting soldier could really use a friend to help keep their minds off their terrible surroundings.  I respect all of the organizations helping soldiers keep their friend because maybe that animal was the only thing keeping the soldier seeing clearly, and the thought of having to leave that animal behind to most likely die is heartbreaking.