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 delivered a mortal wound to Lee, which also injured Lex.
Lee finished first in his training class as a dog handler in 2005. [2] Lee was awarded the "Top Dog" distinction for Block One Patrol Dog Handler's Course with his assigned dog LLeo. LLeo was a puppy program dog that was bred by the Department of Defense and because of Lee's training later was deployed as a patrol narcotics detector dog for the US military.
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.[3] 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.[3] 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.[citation needed] 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.[4] 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.[citation needed]