Dustin J. Lee Explained

Dustin J. Lee
Birth Date:7 April 1986
Birth Place:Meridian, MS
Death Place:Fallujah, Iraq
Placeofburial:Stonewall Cemetery, Stonewall, MS
Nickname:Dusty
Allegiance:United States
Branch:United States Marine Corps
Serviceyears:2003–2007
Rank:Corporal
Unit:3rd Battalion 14th Marines
Awards:Purple Heart
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for Valor

Dustin Jerome Lee (April 7, 1986 – March 21, 2007) was a corporal in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a dog handler and IED detector with his dog Lex. He and Lex were attacked by indirect fire at Company A's forward operating base on March 21, 2007. A 73 mm rocket round exploding delivered a mortal wound to Lee, which also injured Lex.

Early life

Dustin Lee, son of Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper Jerome Lee,[1] was born on April 7, 1986, in Meridian, Mississippi. From around five years old, Lee worked with rescue dogs by hiding in woods and allowing them to find him. According to his father, he was so moved by the September 11 attacks that he signed up for the military before graduating high school.[2] Lee grew up in Quitman, Mississippi,[3] and graduated from Quitman High School in 2004.[1]

Military career and death

Lee finished first in his training class as a dog handler in 2005. Lee was awarded the "Top Dog" distinction for Block One Patrol Dog Handler's Course with his assigned dog LLeo. LLeo was a puppy program dog that was bred by the Department of Defense and because of Lee's training later was deployed as a patrol narcotics detector dog for the US military.He was noted by the kennel master, William W. Reynolds, to be "uncanny as a dog handler". Because of his abilities, Lee was once given two dogs to work with at once: an explosives dog and a narcotics dog. He was stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, HQ BN in Albany, Georgia before his deployment to Iraq. Lee was promoted to the rank of Corporal in July 2006. He attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion before the attack, and was serving in 3rd Battalion 14th Marines G Battery, 3rd platoon at the time of his death. On March 21, 2007, Company A's forward operating base was attacked by insurgents with indirect fire. Lee and Lex sustained shrapnel injuries when a 73 mm rocket exploded inside Lee's forward operating base.[4] Cpl. Lee was medevaced from the area to a hospital, where he died shortly thereafter; Lex's injuries were not life-threatening. Lee was scheduled to return home in approximately six weeks.

Aftermath

Dustin Lee was interred at Stonewall Cemetery in Stonewall, Mississippi on March 31, 2007. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for Valor and the Combat Action Ribbon. Lee's parents, aided by United States Representative Walter Jones (R-NC) and an online petition, successfully asked the Marine Corps to allow Lex to retire early, making him the first fully fit military working dog granted early retirement and adoption by the Department of Defense to his former handler's family.

After Lee's death, the Mississippi State Senate and House of Representatives passed a concurrent resolution honoring him.[5] On March 19, 2010, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany renamed its kennel the "Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee Kennel".

Lex died on March 25, 2012, as the result of cancer.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Marine Cpl. Dustin J. Lee: Died March 21, 2007 Serving During Operation Iraqi Freedom. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150227064228/https://projects.militarytimes.com/valor/marine-cpl-dustin-j-lee/2644822. 2015-02-27. militarytimes.com. July 31, 2013.
  2. Web site: Anderson . Roslyn . Family Trying to Get Slain Marine's Dog Here . MS News Now . November 22, 2007 . July 31, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150227060050/http://www.msnewsnow.com/global/story.asp?s=7395224 . February 27, 2015 . dead .
  3. Web site: Guenther . Joel C. . Base remembers fallen Marine . Blackanthem Military News . April 13, 2008 . July 31, 2013 .
  4. Web site: Webb . Jason M. . Base kennel dedicated to fallen Marine . Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany . March 25, 2010 . July 31, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130221070431/http://www.albany.marines.mil/News/NewsArticleDisplay/tabid/4246/Article/59466/base-kennel-dedicated-to-fallen-marine.aspx . February 21, 2013 .
  5. Web site: Senate Concurrent Resolution 639 (As Adopted by Senate and House). 2007 . August 2, 2013 .