From Baghdad, With Love

Members of First Battalion, Third Marines known as Lava Dogs, stormed an abandoned house in Fallujah when they heard clicking coming from one of the rooms. With their weapons drawn they slowly entered and were startled to see a five-week old puppy dart across the room. His nails clicking on the floor.
The puppy, later named Lava, was dirty, undernourished and covered with fleas. Going against military regulations, the men fed and bathed the puppy, doused him with kerosene to get rid of the fleas and gave him chewing tobacco to de-worm him.
This building became the command post, which meant that the men would have to hide Lava when ‘the brass’ was around or else Lava would most likely be shot and killed, per military regulations.
Then along came Lieutenant Colonel Kopelman…he’s brass. The Lt. Col. saw Lava and asked the men why there is a puppy running around the command post. He got a lot of excuses from the men, mostly with a collective bowed head and toe in the sand saying “What? There’s a puppy here?”

The author, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, (with Melinda Roth) takes you with him on his mission to get Lava out of Baghdad and into the United States. It's a journey that will have you on the edge of your seat, with a box of tissues!

This is one of those books that I will read over and over again. It's available in hardcover, paperback and Kindle.

Yes, I do recommend From Baghdad, With Love for your summer reading or any time of year. It's a beautifully written, heartwarming story. Watch the video to see Lava in person. Oh, and Lt. Col. Kopelman!