How does a wounded warrior channel his innately competitive spirit? The Warrior Games, taking place now in Colorado Spring, Colorado, offer injured veterans an outlet. Competing in Paralympic-style events gives veterans a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and a chance to enjoy the camaraderie they were used to in the military. Twenty-one-year-old Lance Corporal Duncan Mathis […]
Wounded Warrior Games Good for our Veterans Read Post »
I can’t seem to get enough of heroic dogs these days. Thanks to all of my readers who bought LOOK AGAIN, A Novella, I was able to send a nice little check to Hero Dogs (based in Brookville, MD), and I will do the same thing in October, November, and December. Hopefully, our donations will
There’s a pup in my house–a husky/blue-heeler mix–who sparked my imagination and led me to write Look Again, A novella featuring a wounded Navy SEAL veteran and the dog (and woman) who changed his life for the better. Researching the use of therapy dogs taught me about dogs used in military service (See my last blog
Military Dogs, A Bond of Brotherhood Read Post »
This month’s edition of National Geographic spotlights some present-day hero dogs and what happens to them when they’re retired from the military. The cover of the magazine features Kayla, a Belgian Mallinois, who took four point-blank shots from an AK-47 and still subdued her attacker, saving the lives of several soldiers. Kayla lost a leg
May and June are devoted to Hero Dogs Read Post »
On my recent cruise to the Western Caribbean, I met a true heroine, a woman of strength named Bobbi Jo Bottomley. Bobbi Jo is a dog behavior expert who runs a business called Tri-State K9 University, based out of Indiana. Not only does Bobbi Jo take in abused, mistreated, and homeless animals—including a seven-foot, red-tailed
My hero today has been featured across the country on this Veteran’s Day, 2013. His name is Aaron Mankin, a former Marine corporal who suffered severe damage to his nose, mouth, and ears when his amphibious assault craft rolled over and detonated an IED. Four marines were killed in the blast that disfigured Mankin and eleven were injured. Thanks to
Aaron Mankin, Injured Marine inspires other Veterans Read Post »