Book Review: From Baghdad, With Love

From Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War and a Dog Named Lava

by Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman with Melinda Roth

I admit it - I tend to judge a book by its cover. That's probably why I picked up this book in the first place. It was difficult to resist the sweet innocent puppy face that graced the cover. I'm sure my eyes next traveled to the title. Baghdad, huh. I didn't think they liked dogs much over there. As it turns out an Iraqi will save Lava's life, all the while denying he gives two hoots about dogs.

Lava becomes a symbol for Lt. Col. Kopelman. Lava is the last innocent in Kopelman's crazy existence. War thunders around him. Burned out cars along the road are blowing up as the marines drive by. The Iraqi soldiers he was sent to train may or may not show up to battle on any given day. Lava brings normality to Kopelman's daily activities. He is the reminder of home - what's more free than tossing the Frisbee with your dog at the park?

While Kopelman makes a few comments about the our involvement in Iraqi, the story is really about a rescue. An attempt to save one dog and in turn, the soul of one man. Spoiler alert: Lava makes it home. The writing is clear and crisp adding to the tension and drama. Happily there are photos of a well-fed Lava romping in a California dog park. The sure sign of a happy ending.

I wanted to share two passages:

"One morning I wake up and find Lava sitting near my sleeping bag staring at me with his left ear flapped forward and the remains of a toothpaste tube stuffed in his mouth. "Morning," I say. He replies with a minty belch and then barfs up standard-issue Colgate all over my sleeping bag."

And this one, the most poignant of all. Kopelman makes it back to the States before Lava does. He is waiting word:

"And then the email arrives. But instead of opening it, you sit there and stare at the computer... Then you open it.

Iraq closes its borders with Jordan. Four Romanian journalists are kidnapped in Baghdad. A major US newspaper reports that "mental disorders" among Afghanistan and Iraq veterans are on the rise.

Then you read it.

Car bombs kill eleven more in Baghdad.

As of 1600 hours Iraq time, Lava is out of the country.

Twenty US troops are wounded at the Abu Ghraib prison attack.

And for the second time in your adult life, you break down and cry."

So if you are looking for a good read, I highly recommend this book. If you've read it, let me know your thoughts.