Let's Talk BBQ
General => General Discussion & Topics => Kids, grandkids and furry friends => Topic started by: drholly on June 01, 2014, 03:58:22 PM
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My brother sent this to me. It's a little long, but worth the read...
BTW - Pappy, muebe's cutting onions again...
REGGIE...
A True Great Dog Story
They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly. I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.
But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did. But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.
See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.
Maybe we were too much alike. I saw the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."
To Whomever Gets My Dog:
Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different. So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.
First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.
Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones - "sit," "stay," "come," "heel." He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business. Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.
He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows. Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.
And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you ...
His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.
I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event" ... to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption.
Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.
Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.
If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.
All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.
Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.
Thank you, Paul Mallory
I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.
I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.
"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.
The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.
"C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.
His tail swished.
I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.
"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.
"So whatdaya say we play some ball?"
His ears perked again. "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"
Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room.
And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.
If you can read this without getting a lump in your
throat or a tear in your eye, you just ain't right.
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"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
G. K. Chesterton
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Dang it David.....you know how to put a cramp in a guy's John Wayne muscle - don;t ya??? ;D
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Yep, something just flew into my eye....... Damned watery eyes, must be a gnat. Really nice story David, thanks for sharing!
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Adopting a dog....a good thing.
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That was a most touching story, David. Thanks for posting
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Nice. Me and Muebe were both cutting onions.
(http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/06/02/apapepu3.jpg)
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You guys are like two peas in a pod.... ;) ;D ;D ;D
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Do we like peas here,I forget. ::)
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Do we like peas here,I forget. ::)
:D ;) ;D ;D ;D ;) ;D ;D ;D
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Even though I've seen this before I still have to quit cutting onions when I read it. ;)
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LOL, funny !
And all of the great cooks, all over this place !!!!!!!!
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Even though I've seen this before I still have to quit cutting onions when I read it. ;)
+1
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Yep, something just flew into my eye....... Damned watery eyes, must be a gnat. Really nice story David, thanks for sharing!
Must be my allergies. Eyes keep watering! ;)
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What a moving story..
These onions are real strong Pappy! And your turn to ride in the side car :D
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(http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/sad/big-smiley-crying.gif) (http://www.sherv.net/)
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What an emotional read. It could be the genesis of a good fictional movie. Emphasis on fictional. I don’t think it’s true.
I’m not writing this to be mean-spirited or troll-like. I just think readers deserve to know when something is what I call web-s#*t. People continually write and distribute material like this, apparently like launching a paper sack hot air balloon. They don’t know how long it will survive nor where it will go.
The story indicates that Paul Mallory was awarded the Silver Star posthumously. Wanting to read the citation, I went to http://www.homeofheroes.com/silverstar/ (http://www.homeofheroes.com/silverstar/). Gee, no Paul Mallory listed. How odd.
Okay, I’ll check http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx) to see if he’s listed. Nope.
I called our local animal shelter and asked the Director if they would take a Lab under these circumstances. He said they can’t do that and doubts that any animal shelter could. He said to search on Military Pets on an Internet search engine. He said there are several organizations that help deploying military locate temporary foster homes. (The animal lovers among us may want to consider providing this service.)
I went back and reread the narrative looking for some verifiable information. Nope.
But I did wonder about the forgotten letter that I quickly read about the first time. Who would forget a letter from Reggie’s original owner? There’s obviously important information in it, otherwise the owner wouldn’t have written it. It doesn’t track with reality.
I’ve concluded that it’s fiction. If you find otherwise, please post a comment. It will help restore my faith…
So, if you want to shed a tear for those who gave their all. Go to http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx (http://icasualties.org/Iraq/Fatalities.aspx) and read the names and home towns of 5,000 mothers, fathers, sons, brothers and sisters who died in Iraq. Their deaths were real tragedies.
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Paul, That list of Silver Star awardees is inaccurate or incomplete. I have a Silver Star and my citation is not there. Dee
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I'm not surprised in that, Dee. I'm certain that it's an honor you richly deserve. You also deserve to be listed. Here an excerpt from the pages, "The pages linked below are part of a work-in-progress, an estimated 3-year project, to compiled and post the names and citations of ALL Silver Star recipients from ALL branches of service and in ALL wars and conflicts. I welcome your EMAIL with information on any recipients, additions and/or corrections to all posted information, and especially encourage our visitors to submit ANY Silver Star citations you may have."
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Thank you for that David. It made my day.