By Tony Perry For The Los Angeles Times
When Pfc. Colton Rusk was shot in Afghanistan by a Taliban sniper, a Marine dog named Eli immediately ran to him, guarding the downed Marine against further attack.
Even Marines who rushed to Rusk’s side were initially kept at bay by the snarling Labrador, who had been Rusk’s inseparable companion through training and then deployment to a dangerous place called the Sangin Valley.
Rusk, 20, a machine gunner and dog handler from the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, died from his wounds that brutal day in early December.
Out of gratitude for Eli’s loyalty to their son, Darrell and Kathy Rusk, with the support of Marine brass, arranged to adopt Eli and take him to their ranch in Orange Grove, Texas, near Corpus Christi.
Such adoptions are unusual, though not unprecedented. Last week, Rusk’s family took possession of Eli at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, a major training site for military dogs.
good
A BLACK dog !!!!
Why did U comment on the dog being black?
Awww, Dog Files!! My heart is melting with this pic! LOVE it! Congratulations to the Rusk family and Eli!
I’m glad Eli made it home to the Rusk family, but I wish his handler had been able to return safely, too. RIP, Pfc. Rusk. Thank you for your sacrifice.
I like happy endings..:)) I’m glad ELi is with Pfc. Rusk’s family..
So sweet.
Made me cry like a baby. God Bless Eli & glad he made it to theRusk Family!!! RIP PFC Rusk
THANK GOD ELI IS SAFE WITH COLTONS LOVING FAMILY. BLESS THEM FOR ADOPTING ELI. I’M SURE THEIR SON WOULD WANT IT THAT WAY.