Dustin J. Lee
| Dustin J. Lee | |
|---|---|
Dustin Lee in Iraq with Lex
|
|
| Nickname(s) | Dusty |
| Born |
April 7, 1986 Meridian, MS |
| Died | March 21, 2007 (aged 20) Fallujah, Iraq |
| Buried | Stonewall Cemetery, Stonewall, MS (32°08′08″N 88°46′53″W / 32.1355°N 88.7813°W) |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 2003–2007 |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 3rd Battalion 14th Marines |
| Awards |
Purple Heart Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Distinguishing Device for Valor |
Dustin Jerome Lee (April 7, 1986 – March 21, 2007) was a Corporal in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a dog handler and IED detector with his dog Lex. He and Lex were attacked by indirect fire at Company A's forward operating base on March 21, 2007. A 73 mm rocket round exploding inside the base delivered a mortal wound to Lee, which also injured Lex.
Dustin Lee, son of Mississippi Highway Patrol trooper Jerome Lee, was born on April 7, 1986, in Meridian, Mississippi. From around five years old, Lee worked with rescue dogs by hiding in woods and allowing them to find him. According to his father, he was so moved by the September 11 attacks that he signed up for the military before graduating high school. Lee grew up in Quitman, Mississippi and graduated from Quitman High School in 2004.
Lee finished first in his training class as a dog handler in 2005. He was noted by the kennel master, William W. Reynolds, to be "uncanny as a dog handler". Because of his abilities, Lee was once given two dogs to work with at once: an explosives dog and a narcotics dog. He was stationed at Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany, HQ BN in Albany, Georgia before his deployment to Iraq. Lee was promoted to the rank of Corporal in July 2006. He attached to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion before the attack, and was serving in 3rd Battalion 14th Marines G Battery, 3rd platoon at the time of his death. On March 21, 2007, Company A’s forward operating base was attacked by insurgents with indirect fire. Lee and Lex sustained shrapnel injuries when a 73 mm rocket exploded inside Lee's forward operating base. Cpl. Lee was medevaced from the area to a hospital, where he died shortly thereafter; Lex's injuries were not life-threatening. Lee was scheduled to return home in approximately six weeks.
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