Oldest soldier killed Iraq-his adopted pup Laia is coming to U.S.

[RamboLiberal]

Somewhere in Iraq today, a little yellow dog named Laia is starting the treacherous journey of a lifetime to the United States. She’s being saved thanks to Maj. Steven Hutchison, who adopted her, and SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups. But Hutchison himself won’t be part of the homecoming: He was killed by a roadside bomb May 10 outside Basra, just three months before he was supposed to return home to Scottsdale, Ariz. When she reaches the U.S., Laia will live with a friend's family instead.

Even among the heroic tales of sacrifice of the nearly 5,000 troops who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan, Maj. Hutchison stands out. At 60, he was the oldest combat death in either conflict. He was a decorated Vietnam vet with a doctorate in psychology. The father of two grown daughters, he had wanted to rejoin the military after the Sept. 11 attacks, but listened to his wife, who didn’t want him to go. After she died of cancer in 2006, Hutchison re-enlisted, with tours in Afghanistan and Iraq as an adviser to Iraqi forces.

Hutchison's unit found Laia at just 1 month old in Basra. The local vet said he would have to euthanize the dog unless they adopted her as a mascot. As policy, soldiers are not supposed to adopt strays, and Hutchison defied orders to get rid of the dog, even moving her from base to base, his friend, Sgt. Andrew Hunt, told the SPCA. "He ignored this request several times up until it began to move toward punishment," Sgt. Hunt said. "See, you couldn't ever tell the Major he couldn't do something, he a stubborn old goat set in his ways. It was an endearing quality we loved about him."

Long tours in Iraq have led many soldiers to adopt animals, SPCA International spokeswoman Stephanie Scroggs told PEOPLE Pets. "As soon as soldiers adopt a dog or a cat, it just seems very transformative in many of their lives," she said. That seems to have been the case with Hutchison, who let Laia sleep in his bed and ride in his lap. "Whenever Laia was around, his demeanor and personality changed 1000 percent," Hunt told the SPCA. "He was never without a smile, he was so much happier in life, it was amazing."

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31003571/



This one sure put tears in my eyes. Have a happy life in U.S. Laia. Sad your soldier friend will not be there to greet you.

[Dappleganger]

1. Look at those giant paws!

She will do great things (if you've read Pickles the Fire Cat, you'll know what is meant by that).

[Maat]

2. Bless you, Laia.

You are a symbol of humanity and caring.

May you live many blissful years in your new home.

[janx]

3. Tears in my eyes too...

wow. And what a beautiful, beautiful pup.

[alstephenson]

4. K & R - with great sadness for Maj. Hutchison and his family...

and with great joy for Laia.

[Booster]

5. What a sad story. I hope Laia has a great life here.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Update: Loved Ones Meet Fallen Soldier's Dog

DULLES, Va. (WUSA) -- A fallen soldier's five-month-old dog arrived on American soil Monday afternoon, allowing mourning loved ones to see the puppy princess that kept Major Steven Hutchison so happy in Iraq.

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The Vietnam Veteran and Army Major left behind a piece of himself in his dog, Laia. The soldier's team found her at the young age of six weeks old. She had a broken back hind leg, which they casted. Hutchison decided to name her after Princess Leia in "Star Wars," his favorite movie. From that moment forward, she had him wrapped around his paw.

"I probably shipped over $300 worth of supplies to him for the dog... dog food, collars, leash bowls, deworming medication, all kinds of stuff," says Richard, who flew in from Phoenix, Ariz., along with his wife Nancy to meet the dog.

"He lived for that dog," says Nancy. "He loved her."

Laia was able to make the safe trip home after a close friend of the fallen soldier's contacted organizers of the SPCA Internationals Operation Baghdad Pups program. It's designed to proved veterinary care, clearance and transports out of the war zone for soldiers companion animals.

http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=86700&catid=158