MWD LEX COMES HOME!!

Lex Patriot Pet 2009, AAFES interview

2009-04-22T18:17:00.001-07:00

AAFES Interview with Lee Family:April 2009 from Brian Rich on Vimeo.

AKC/Eukanuba National Championship December, 13, 2008

2008-12-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

Photos of the Rachel, Jerome and Lex at the AKC-Eukanuba Championship for Law Enforcement Dog of the Year Award.

Lex named AKC's 2008 Law Enforcement Dog of the Year

2008-09-26T16:22:00.000-07:00

AKC Honors Outstanding Dogs with 2008 AKC Awards for Canine Excellence (ACE)
[Wednesday, September 24, 2008]
--Extraordinary Dogs Receive Top Honors for Their Contributions to the Safety and Well-being of Humankind --

Law Enforcement: "Lex" owned by Jerome and Rachel Lee of Quitman, MS
Lex, a 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog, is a retired military dog who served in Iraq with young Marine Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee. Cpl. Lee was a renowned dog handler due to his extraordinary ability to work an explosives detection dog and narcotics detection dog simultaneously. Under the skilled guidance of Cpl. Lee, Lex dutifully searched for roadside bombs to keep the roads safe and open for American troops in Iraq. Tragically, Cpl. Lee was killed in a mortar attack in Falluja in early 2007. As he lay bleeding, Lex, although injured himself, was at his partner’s side to comfort him. Their bond was so strong, the loyalty so deep, that medics had to drag Lex away so they could attend to Cpl. Lee. He succumbed a short time later and Lex was reassigned to the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Georgia.

Cpl. Lee’s parents, Jerome and Rachel, who knew about the special relationship that existed between their son and Lex, petitioned to adopt the dog. North Carolina Congressman, Walter Jones, heard about the Lee’s request, and led a successful campaign to retire Lex, so that he could finally have a home with the Lees.

Since his retirement, Lex has been awarded a Commemorative Purple Heart, but he has not rested on his laurels. The Lee’s bring Lex to VA hospitals and retirement homes to offer solace to the veterans who have so honorably served their country.

Ladies Home Journal

2008-07-08T18:43:00.000-07:00

The August 2008 issue of Ladies Home Journal features a great Article on Cpl Lee, the Lee Family and the adoption of Lex.

Lex's Retirement and Adoption Ceremony

2008-05-30T11:45:00.000-07:00

The first of three videos to come. This is the footage shot of the actual retirement and adoption of Lex. Although the video is property of the Lee family, I can not take credit for shooting the ceremony (I had to sit with the family up front).
A couple of Marine PFCs were kind enough to tape the ceremony instead. Their hands where a little shaky and there are a couple of places that they just decided to stop filming, (like cutting the camera off in the middle of the Lex being handed over to the Lee family) but its all good. We got the day on tape and thats all that matters.
There will be three videos total.

Military Working Dog Lex, Retirement Ceremony: 12-21-07 from Brian Rich on Vimeo.

(c)one19designs, Brian Rich

Lex's New Missions

2008-05-21T12:22:00.000-07:00

Lex and Cpl Lee's family are now on a new mission. To help aid in their healing of the loss of their son and brother, they are going to try and help other vets and their families as well. Lex and the Lee family's testimony will be a tool to help other veterans who where wounded in combat and to also help the families who have lost a loved one in combat. The sacrifices made by our service men and women and their families should not be forgotten.

Lex's new missions will be posted at www.k9mission119lex.blogspot.com

Lex after Dustin's Funeral Service

2008-05-21T06:48:00.000-07:00

March 31, 2007.
Video was shot following Cpl Lee's funeral Service

Senator McCain meets Lex

2008-04-05T08:28:00.000-07:00

Presidential hopeful Senator Jon McCain made a stop in Meridian, MS
While he was there he got to meet Rachel and Lex.

McCain Campaign Blogs:
http://mccainblogs.com/2008/04/01/john-mccain-and-family-get-to-meet-lex/

Wall Street Journal Blogs:
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2008/03/31/mccain-hears-a-mothers-story/?mod=WSJBlog

Nasty letter received

2008-02-04T11:57:00.000-08:00

It was only a matter of time before the Lee family got their first piece of "hate" mail. This person is outraged that we took a good working dog out of service "that could save lives" in Iraq.
I probably should not give this person the privlege of being on the same blog as Lex but here goes- It needs to be addressed.
I can not tell if this person has lost a family member(s) in the war or not. It is vague in how it is worded. If they have lost someone in the war, then i am truly sorry for their loss, but to write this letter and send via mail is out of line.
To send a letter like this to a still grieving parent is very low and self righteous.
First let me give everyone some facts....again about Lex.

1).Lex was injured- He can no longer serve in a war or hostile environment. He is non-deployable. The shrapnel that Lex still carries around in himself, keeps him from being able to fly at high altitudes, so he would never go on another tour.

2) "2 more good years".. lets address that...The Marine Corps may have said they pulled a healthy dog from service... but that is not completely true because of the above stated reasons of number 1. Lex is healthy in the fact that he is alive, but Lex is not healthy to serve his country anymore. So therefore Lex would have not saved any more lives in Iraq. Lex would have set in a kennel staring at a concrete wall until it was his time to go into the dog run and do his business.

3) Some people may have suggested that Lex could train other dogs or handlers. Dogs do not train other dogs or handlers. It is the other way around.

4) Lex was already showing signs of depression and was having difficulty in training. (more info you don't get on the news)

So without further adieu, here is the letter sent to Rachel and Jerome

Mr. and Mrs. Lee,

I live here in Albany and have been watching your story on TV. I think
it is very selfish of you to take Lex out of his service of duty early. I have
a nephew in Iraq and a son in the Army, Lex could've been available to save
their lives, could he not? Although I feel for you for losing your son, you
are not the only ones that has lost a soldier, and sadly you are not the last.
Lex had two more good years, that's ALOT of lives he could've saved, I'm sorry you
couldn't see clearly enough to wait two years so that maybe... someone else's
soldier could've made it home safely.
Regards.
C. York

C. York, if you have lost a loved one in this war I am truly sorry because our family knows what you have gone through, the same as the other 3,945 families whom have lost someone in this war.
You have your opinion and I am sorry that you see this wonderful act on behalf of the Marine Corps as a mistake. To us it a blessing. And I will leave it at that.

Kindest regards
Brian Rich

Dustin & Lex mentioned on Bob Kingsley's Country Countdown

2008-01-13T09:08:00.001-08:00

(click link)

AKC Honors Lex

2008-01-11T11:02:00.000-08:00

American Kennel Club honors Lex at the Adoption Ceremony

Link:
http://www.akc.org/news/index.cfm?article_id=3392

Military Working Dog Lex Retirement and Adoption Ceremony

2007-12-22T08:32:00.000-08:00

Lex's Retirement and Adoption Ceremony (Congressman Walter B. Jones speaking)

Congressman Walter B. Jones of North Carolina 3rd District, speaking with the family
This would not have been possible without him

Family with Lex

Madyson Lee with Lex

Camryn Lee with Lex

FOX INTERVIEW

CNN INTERVIEW

CBS INTERVIEW

Inside Edition interviewing Madyson Lee, Cpl Lee's sister

All photos ©Lisa Lang and are not to be used without written permission from author of this site.
©one19designs