Free No Buddy Left Behind: Bringing U.S. Troops' Dogs and Cats Safely Home From the Combat Zone by Terri Crisp; C. J. Hurn

soon as we got through U.S. Customs, I pulled out my Blackberry, anxious to let Eddie know we'd arrived.
Eddie, we've landed in D.C.! Charlie is beside me, along with camera crews and news reporters from CNN and other media, waiting for the press conference to begin. Your dog is getting a hero's welcome, and he's loving every minute of it.
Oh, and the guys from SLG wanted me to tell you that even though Charlie howled when they pulled away from your outpost, once they got him to their compound, he settled in just fine. They spoiled him the next day with plenty of treats and affection. He even got a bath. By the time they took him to the airport, they were buddies.
So many people on this journey went out of their way to make sure Charlie had a safe, successful trip. I cannot tell you how full my heart is at this moment.

    Rest easy, my friend. Your dog is home.
    -Terri
    Eddie must have been waiting by the outpost computer. A few seconds later, as I answered questions from journalists, my cell phone rang. It was Eddie. No one could make me ignore this call.
    "We did it!" Eddie yelled. His voice was nearly drowned out by the whoops and shouts from soldiers standing around him.
    "You'd better believe it! Charlie's paws are on American soil as we speak, and there's not a grain of sand in sight."
    A long pause on Eddie's end bore witness to the depth of feeling contained in his next words. "I don't know how to say ... what this means ... Thank you."
    "Other than knowing Charlie is safe, the only thanks I need, Eddie, is to see you come home."
    "I'll be there in six weeks."
    An excited group of people waited to welcome Charlie and me amidst the reporters and cameras at the airport. It was such a relief to see the faces of my daughter Jennifer, my boss JD and co-worker Stephanie, plus SPCA International volunteers Bev Westerman and Barb Hartman. Hugs and tears were shared all around, and everyone was in a celebrating mood.
    After the crowd of well-wishers and reporters dispersed, Jennifer and Stephanie went to get the rental cars. The only people who stayed behind were JD and the reporter from The Washington Post. We had all decided to take Charlie out for a walk along the National Mall and to take his photograph there so I could send it to Eddie. Before Jennifer and Stephanie returned with the cars, JD turned to me. Our eyes met for a few moments in a wordless recognition of what we had just achieved.
    On many occasions in the last few months we had sat in JD's office together, sometimes with tears of frustration welling up in our eyes when it looked like Charlie's rescue plan would slip, once again, like dry sand through our fingers. With every obstacle that appeared, the stakes rose, and the price tag mushroomed into frighteningly high figures. That financial burden was always on JD's shoulders. Despite his earnest desire to help Eddie and his dog, I honestly don't know why JD didn't just pull the plug.

    "You did it, Terri," JD said. "You kept your promise to Charlie."
    "I wasn't the only one; we all did it." I replied.
    JD looked away, a little embarrassed at the emotions that threatened to spill over in public.
    "We actually pulled off the impossible. Isn't it an awesome feeling?" I asked.
    "I haven't felt so fulfilled in a long time," JD admitted quietly. Determined to maintain his composure, my boss suddenly changed to a brisk, business-as-usual tone. "I'm going to ride to the mall with the photographer and Stephanie. Do you want me to stay with you until Jennifer gets back?"
    "No. You go ahead, and we'll meet all of you there. Charlie and I will just plop ourselves down here and grab a quiet moment."
    I sat with my back propped against the wall, legs stretched out in front of me. Closing my eyes, I stroked Charlie, who had lain beside me and placed his head on my lap. Before she left the international arrivals area with JD, the photographer from The Washington Post captured Charlie and me with her camera. Above our heads the