A feisty Iraqi “dog of war” finds a Michigan home.

Who knows why young U. S. Marine Sgt. Malone, part of a firefight in Iraq in early December, grabbed the stray puppy and stuck her in his pocket? The pup’s eyes were barely open, and pets were discouraged at their FOB (forward operations base). Whatever his motive, the dog became part of many lives from that day forward.

Semper Fi (“Always Faithful”)
Back at the FOB, the Marines named the pup Bullet. The entire company of about 200 cared for her. She returned their care with a fierce devotion and protective spirit understood and appreciated by a band of brothers who had faced death together and lost five of their own in the process. She became their companion, their comfort, and their comic relief.

1st Sgt. (now Sgt. Maj.) Ken Baum of Mears witnessed battle-hardened Marines playing tag with her, wrestling playfully, and—during times of stress and loss—holding her and sometimes crying, their faces buried in her fur to hide their tears. When time came for them to ship home in April, these Marines were not leaving Bullet behind.

Having cared for Bullet when she became sick soon after arriving at the base, Baum had forged a close bond with the pup, and he readily agreed to give her a home in Michigan when his fellow Marines asked him to.

They searched online and found Military Mascots (www.militarymascots.com), a non-profit volunteer organization that helps with the expense and logistics of bringing home animals attached to military units overseas. Bullet’s particular situation required some “creativity,” Baum confesses.

“A lot of Marines worked together with some very good people to bring her home,” he says. “I also can’t thank the public enough for all their support.” He explains that care packages arrived from the U. S. containing dog food and treats as soon as family and friends learned about Bullet.

That was fortunate for Bullet, since Iraqi dogs don’t usually fare that well. Most of the dogs in Iraq are wild. Iraqi natives seldom care for them or keep them as pets. The dogs scavenge and live in dens, and pups are often attacked and killed by other dogs.

Bullet’s New Family
The agreement to adopt Bullet underscores the bravery and generosity of Baum’s own family: wife, Juliann, and children Wyatt, 11, Kassidy, 9, and Walker, 7. Coinciding with Baum’s deployment to Iraq, Juliann discovered she had cancer. She underwent chemotherapy treatments while Baum was in Iraq, still working when possible and caring for their three children and menagerie of horses, dogs and cats during her husband’s absence. The Baum children, anxious about both their parents, still managed excellent school performance and helped around the home during their father’s deployment.

Separated from her Marines when they left Iraq for California, Bullet was crated and flown from Kuwait to Detroit. She acted terrified and aggressive when Juliann met her at the airport on April 24. U. S. Marines are often referred to as “devil dogs,” and she remembers thinking, as she faced the snarling dog in the crate, “Kenny, you’ve sent me a real devil dog here.”

But Bullet and Juliann became friends quickly. Since she had ridden in military vehicles in Iraq, the dog didn’t mind the trip to Mears. At home, the high-energy Bullet bonded instantly with the Baum children, who were equally delighted with her.

“It was as if she knew they were Kenny’s,” says Juliann.

The Homecoming
When the Marines returned from California to a rousing homecoming at the Deltaplex Expo Center in Grand Rapids on April 29, the Baum family and Bullet were among those waiting to welcome them. Bullet recognized her men as soon as they marched into the large room and “wiggled from head to toe,” according to Juliann. Leaping into Baum’s arms, the dog settled there, reaching her paws out to touch the other Marines who gathered around her.

“She’ll always be a part of Alpha Company,” vows Baum, who plans to bring her to annual Family Day and other events at the company’s headquarters in Grand Rapids, so Bullet can maintain ties with her Marines.

To the men of 1st Battalion/24thMarines Alpha Company: Thanks for your brave service, and rest easy. Your dog of war is safe at home.