Please help the Lee Family adopt LEX. The Lee family lost their son, Dustin, when he was killed while on duty in Iraq on March 21, 2007. He was only 20 years old. Cpl. Dustin Lee was a dog handler in the US Marine Corps and was killed when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded. LEX was wounded in the attack and is now in Albany, Georgia. The Lee family applied to adopt Lex and is asking everyone to support their application to adopt LEX by signing a petition.

LEX at the the funeral of Cpl. Dustin Lee. Photo courtesy of Lee Family

How you can help

You may help support the adoption of LEX by the Lee family in any of the following ways:

• LEX is being held at the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) in Albany, Georgia. Lex is still being used as a working dog, despite the fact he was injured and still has shrapnel in his body. Over time this condition may cause stress and contribute to disability. It is therefore regarded as inhumane by this author and everyone is urged to appeal for the immediate retirement of Lex and his adoption by the Lee Family. You may help by calling or writing a polite letter urging that the Marine Corps please expedite the adoption of Lex by the Lee family.

  Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB), Albany GA Base Commanding Officer: Colonel Christian N Haliday 814 Radford Boulevard Albany GA 31704

  MCLB Sergeant Major is R. D. Kennedy

  Kennel Master is Capt Mike Reynolds

  Headquarters Battalion - Company 1stSgt ---phone 229-639-5101
  Headquarters Battalion - Executive Officer ---phone 229-639-7490
  Public Safety Division - Military Police Services---phone 229-639-5181
  

• Watch the video "Son KIA! Help Lee Family adopt LEX!" Then sign the petion! Thank you!

• Please sign the petition to adopt LEX . Everyone is being asked to show their support for the adoption of LEX by the Lee Family through signing a petition. Perhaps if those in command realize that there is significant public support for the adoption of LEX, they will expedite his adoption by the Lee Family.

• You may also help by addressing you state and US Congressional representatives. Please send a polite letter drawing attention to the fact that you support the adoption of LEX by the Lee Family and would like their help and support to expedite the adoption of LEX.

• Tell all your friends and associates about LEX and the effort to help the Lee Family adopt LEX and ask them to please sign the petition.

• You may link to this or associated LEX sites so that everyone may learn about Lex and efforts to support his adoption by the Lee Family. To link LEX sites you may download the banners below and place it on your site.
  
  
  
  

  Use these banners to link to:

  The LEX adoption site at http://www.retirelex.blogspot.com/

  The Rember Dustin site at http://www.remembercpldustinlee.blogspot.com/

  The petition to expedite the adoption of LEX at http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/retire-military-working-dog-lex

  Support Adoption of Lex at http://www.byteland.org/lex/index.html (this page)

  There is also posted a brief PR at http://www.byteland.org/lex/support_adoption_of_lex.html

  This code may be copy/pasted and dropped into any website, blog or other on-line page.

  Support the adoption of Lex by Lee Family

  I would like to urge everyone to please support the adoption of Lex by the Lee Family. It is my opinion that this is the most honorable and appropriate action to take.

  Everyone is encouraged to visit these sites and learn about Cpl. Dustin Lee, a US Marine who served his country with honor and gave his life for God and country. While doing duty in Iraq Dustin and his dog, Lex, searched out explosives, booby traps and IEDs (Imporvised explosive devices) that were used by insurgents to target and kill Americans and innocent men, women and children. Helping to locate these explosives saved many lives. We who hold our freedom dear own a debt of graditude to Cpl. Dustin Lee and his dog, Lex. Although Cpl. Lee is gone, Lex still lives. It is this author's opinion that Lex should be retired immediately, that Lex should be allowed to live out the remainder of his life as a companion dog, bringing love and comfort to the Lee family who gave their son for God and country!

  This is the right and honorable course of action! To keep working Lex could result in stress, aggrivate his wound, result in arthritis or disability as Lex ages. It is simply inhumane to not retire this hero dog! In fact, Dustin and Lex should be given a metal by the President of the United States in a White House ceremony!

  I say this as one who grew up in an Army family. My father, Lt. Col. Leonard P. Lynch did duty in WWII, the Korean War, the Cold War and Vietnam War. As an Army brat I learned what duty and honor meant at an early age, growing up listening to war stories. Too often people take their freedom for granted and do not know the sacrifice soldiers and their familes make.

  Lex is a hero dog! Cpl. Dustin Lee was a hero! We should honor both and in so doing retire Lex immediately and allow him to live out the remainder of his life with the Lee Family!

  Terry Lynch
  17 Nov. 2007
  

In an unprecedented move the Marine Corps announced that it will grant the adoption of Lex by the Lee family. It was announced today, Dec. 12, 2007, that the Lee family would be permitted to adopt Lex, the hero War Dog that was with Cpl. Dustin Lee on duty in Iraq when a rocket-propelled grenade exploded, killing Cpl. Lee and wounding Lex.

The Marine Corps announced that it will present Lex to the Lee family later in the month. This marks the first time the Marine Corps has permitted the early retirement and adoption of a War Dog to a family whose handler was killed in action in Iraq.

As of 12 Dec., 2007 some 3, 278 citizens have signed the petition to support the early retirement adoption of Lex and his adoption by the Lee family. Almost 400 people have watched the Son KIA! Help Lee Family adopt War Dog LEX YouTube video. Many more people learned about Lex from newspaper articles and news reports on television and the radio. Then concerned citizens wrote letters to their representatives to express their support for the adoption of Lex. Everyone's help and support is greatly appreciated.

Everyone who offered their support by signing the on line petition and writing to their representatives deserves a big hug! This is a Christmas season gift that the Lee family will forever remember and cherish! Thank everyone for their support! God bless and have a merry Christmas!

Cpl. Dustin Lee with his dog, Lex. Photo courtesy of Lee Family

Learn more about War Dogs, their history, service to America and memorials by watching these videos.

War Dogs on duty Vietnam

More than 4,000 dogs recruited to serve and protect U.S. troops in Vietnam, preventing 10,000-plus American casualties in the process. Yet, only a few of these dogs returned to America at the close of the war. Since these canine heroes were classified by the military as equipment, they were declared "surplus armaments" and either unceremoniously euthanised or left to unknown fates in Vietnam.

War Dog Memorial, Holmdel, NJ

The United States War Dogs Memorial which is located at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Holmdel, New Jersey was dedicated on June 10, 2006. This memorial is dedicated to all War Dogs and their Handlers, Past, Present and Future. Your Deeds and Sacrifices will always be Remembered.

Always Forever

Dedication and unveiling of War Dog Cemetery, US Naval Base, Guam, July 21, 1994.

War Dog K9 Hero Gifts & Apparel