Will I See You Tomorrow
One day while I was browsing the “In Touch Ministries” website, a picture of a small child in a missionary program grabbed my attention. I wanted to go on a mission trip. I’ve always felt there is something more I’m supposed to be doing for God other than my day to day routine.
I began to access my skills. Even though I read the Bible daily, I didn’t feel my memory of scripture was adequate for missions work. My background and passion is fitness and the military. What in the world would I do with that?
I googled a search for “jobs in Iraq” and pulled up a well known contractor that works in Iraq. I began to search their site for jobs and saw “MWR Coordinator.” Interesting—I worked for MWR at Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri.
I read the job description of an MWR Coordinator and it was exactly what I was doing. I thought, “You mean they do this in Iraq?” You could have knocked me over with a feather.
I was working the 1000-2230 shift at the internet café in Fallujah, Iraq. We had a crowd of Marines and Soldiers sitting in the waiting area for their turn to use the phones and computers.
Each night I would make popcorn and put on a movie. The troops followed the smell of the popcorn and meekly approached me saying, “ma’am, that popcorn sure does smell good. May I have some?”
As I cleaned up and went in the waiting area I looked over the room of about 30 troops while they laughed, ate popcorn, and enjoyed the movie.
I felt like I had a room full of sons and daughters, and my family was in from missions. They were safe and sound under my watchful eye.
I thought about their mothers and fathers; what were they doing right now? I knew they must worry each day about their children. Even though they are technically adults, they are someone’s children.
I found myself wishing I had a camera so that I could film each one of them and send it to their parents or write each one a letter to let them know that their children were safe and sound right now.
I’m always amazed how quickly our troops can switch gears. They are trained to do battle, but as they sit in the internet café, they laugh, play games, watch movies and keep in contact with their families through email and by phone.
They are very appreciative of the support they receive from us from the states. They easily talk about their families and speak lovingly of them. They know this time in Iraq isn’t forever and they will return to them after their deployment.
At that moment they were peaceful, they were happy and they were not in any danger.
As I surveyed the room I once again, thought of their parents. Mothers and fathers, I know where your children are right now. I’m watching over them.
I wanted to hug each one of them. I wanted to pray with each one of them to let them know that they don’t have to go through this deployment alone, to tell them that God loved them and to pray God’s protection upon them.
I thought of the real possibility that I may not see them again and began to wonder, “Will I see you tomorrow?” Some of these kids I knew well. Most of them I saw on a daily basis. I had great admiration and respect for all of them.
I talked with one young Marine Cpl who had his dog Lex with him. I wanted to take a picture of the two of them together but Cpl Dustin Lee wasn’t sure how Lex would react since they had just experienced an explosion that day.
Lex was a big, beautiful German Shepard. He was a bomb sniffing dog. He was large but not intimidating. Even while at rest Lex was very attentive and constantly looked to Dustin for direction.
I asked Cpl Lee if I could pet his dog. I missed my Pekingese mix dog at home so I grabbed at every opportunity to make a new canine friend. Dustin consented to letting me pet Lex. The “war dog” suddenly turned into a big marshmallow. He was no longer on duty. Lex’s reward for military service was all the attention he received, and he lapped up every bit of it.
I spoke with Dustin a little while longer. He struck me as an “All American” kid. He was quick to smile and very friendly. He had participated in many of our fun runs with his friends. Cpl Lee was a tall, good looking boy. He had “the few, the proud, the Marines” look. I couldn’t help but to think that his parents must be very proud of him.
Cpl Lee told me that he and his dog were going back to the states soon and how excited he was to go home. Dustin was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina but Mississippi was home. His dog Lex was a seven year veteran and was retiring upon his return to the states.
Cpl Lee was obviously very proud of his dog always reaching down to pet him as he talked. It was also obvious that Lex had great admiration for Cpl Lee. He never took his eyes off of Dustin and sat attentively next to him, always leaning against his leg. Lex was going home with Cpl Lee to become a pet.
It was weeks later that I heard my supervisor, also a dog lover, talking about Lex and how he had taken shrapnel during an explosion. I asked about the dog and she said he was on his way back to the states; he was okay.
She seemed to leave out the most obvious information that one would want to know. If the dog was injured, what happened to the dog handler? I swallowed hard and asked the question.
She said, “I thought you knew. Cpl Lee was killed.”
I later found out from one of Dustin’s aunts that Lex and Dustin were standing by a concrete wall that was hit by a mortar. Lex was the last one to see Dustin. Even though Lex was injured, he lay with Cpl Lee and licked his face as if he was trying to revive him. It was too late. All the love in the world could not bring Cpl Lee back.
I went through a range of emotions. I was angry, hurt, shocked but most of all I didn’t want to believe it. One of my boys was dead. I will never see him again. He was only 20 years old…this makes no sense at all! I left the gym to be by myself. I didn’t want the troops to see me like this. I cried and sobbed until I had nothing left in me.
How must his parents feel? Their son was so close to coming home to them and now they will never see him again. I know they must have felt so helpless that they couldn’t be there with Dustin and hold him in their arms once more. They would never see his beautiful smile again.
I also think they must have been very proud of him. Dustin walked his talk. Many of us talk about the unrighteousness in this world but Cpl Lee did something about it. He served his country. He was a Marine!
I don’t think I will ever forget that night. The memory will live on in my heart forever. I am so proud of our young men and women and I will continue to pray over them, a prayer my friend prays over me each day.
Psalm 91 (New International Version)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Months after writing this story I received an email from an organization telling me that Dustin’s family was not allowed to adopt Lex. Lex was still working in Georgia training other military dogs. He wasn’t deployable but, he was still working.
A petition was set forth to release Lex to the Lee family. The Lee’s continued to work relentlessly for the adoption of Lex.
Well, this story does have a happy ending. I received an email a few days ago, 9 months later from Dustin’s aunt, that Lex is being released to the Lee family. They will be picking him up in Georgia on December 21, 2007. Lex will be home for Christmas.
I read in an article that this is unheard of; releasing a working dog to someone besides the dog handler. In this season of miracles it reminds one that all things are possible with God.
I believe that Dustin must be looking down from his mansion in heaven and flashing one of his beautiful smiles. I believe Dustin is at peace and can rest assured that his beloved Lex has a wonderful new home with his family.
Phyllis Stewart is the author of God’s Temple-40 Days to Total Transformation and This is It. She spent almost 3 years in Iraq serving the troops by managing sports, fitness and recreation facilities and programs. Since returning to the states she is fitness coaching online and by phone and resides in Vienna, Virginia. For more information about Phyllis or her services please visit www.expectsuccesspt.com or email her at phyllis@expectsuccesspt.com.