Dustin Jerome Lee
Dustin Jerome Lee
Born: April 7, 1986 Died: March 21, 2007
Meridian Star Mississippi loses another son Stonewall, MS soldier killed in Iraq By Brian Livingston / staff Writer Jerome Lee of Stonewall, MS has been a trooper for Troop H of the Mississippi Highway Patrol since 1982. He can still vividly remember his six-year old son, Dustin, playing in his patrol car. “He always wanted to call the dispatcher on the radio to tell them I was in service,” said Jerome Lee Thursday afternoon. “I let him play with the siren and lights some. He wanted to become a state trooper.” But Dustin Jerome Lee won’t be able to fulfill his dream of being a trooper and following in his father’s footsteps. Dustin Lee, 20, died earlier this week serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in Iraq — six weeks before he was expected to return home. The Lee family was notified Tuesday of their sacrifice by Marine Corps officials. “He was a very focused, intense individual,” said the elder Lee by phone. “He always excelled in everything he set out to do. He had his whole life mapped out.” Dustin Lee was serving in the 3/14 G Battery, 3rd platoon in Falluja when he was killed. Jerome Lee said his son died of injuries suffered in a mortar attack. “He was hit in the chest with shrapnel from the blast and was medi-vaced out of the area to a hospital,” said Jerome Lee. “He died a little while later.” The two men talked the day before Dustin Lee was killed. Jerome Lee said his son was sounding upbeat and in high spirits. “Maybe it was the knowledge he was coming home in about six weeks. I don’t know. But he left me a voice message on my answering machine before he went out on his last mission,” Jerome Lee said. Jerome Lee played back the message left by his son. In the message, Dustin Lee said he just wanted to call before he headed out and to tell everyone he loved them. “He said he’d talk to us later,” Jerome Lee said. Dustin Lee, according to his father, loved to ride dirt bikes, a sport Dustin Lee picked up from his younger brother, Camryn Lee. Jerome Lee said Camryn and Dustin’s sister Madyson, were doing as well as could be expected with the news of the death. Jerome Lee is trying to grapple with the loss of his eldest son. Nonetheless, he is still proud of the boy who once sat in his patrol car and wanted to follow his daddy into serving others. “He always wanted to help other people,” said Jerome Lee. “He loved his country and was proud to be a Marine.” Asked, despite the devastating loss, if he was proud of his son’s service to his country and his sacrifice Jerome Lee replied quietly, “Most definitely. I’m very proud of him.”
Meridian Star Dec. 13, 2007 Lex is coming home K-9 partner of fallen Marine to be adopted by family By Brian Livingston The family of Dustin Lee, a Quitman native and U.S. Marine killed in a rocket propelled grenade attack March 21 in Iraq, is celebrating now that their lobbying for Lee's K-9 partner, Lex, has paid off. Lex, the 8-year old German Shepherd who was seriously injured in the attack but has since recovered, will be the subject of a joyous reunion on Dec. 21 at the Marine Corps Logistics Base in Albany, Ga. Lee's family is scheduled to pick up Lex exactly nine months after the attack. "We knew that's what Dustin would have wanted out of this," Jerome Lee, Dustin Lee's father told a reporter from the Associated Press. "He knew we would take care of Lex and love him, just like our own." At the time of the attack earlier this year, Dustin Lee was detached from Marine Corps Police Department, Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany and attached to the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 6, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. According to a press release submitted by MCLB Albany, Lee's family had requested to adopt Lex even though the dog was still in a working capacity. The request began going through military channels, and during mid-November, several congressional representatives began advocating for Lex's adoption. "We are proud to have had Lex serve alongside Marines here and around the world," said MCLB Albany Commanding Officer Col. C.N. Haliday. "The sacrifice Cpl. Lee has made and that of Lex will not be forgotten. I am glad to be able to support the Lee family, not just in the adoption of Lex, but also to reestablish their connection to their beloved son Dustin." 2nd Lt. Caleb Eames, a spokesman for the Marine base in Albany, said Lex is the first able-bodied dog the military has released to a former handler's family. "Obviously their situation is very unique," Eames said concerning the Lee family. "T he military is proud to have dogs like Lex, but even more happy to be able to assuage the family's grief." Congress passed a law in 2000 allowing aging or disabled military dogs to be adopted by police departments, former handlers and possibly civilians if the dogs aren't too aggressive. Lex was medically evaluated for 12 weeks at Camp Lejeune, N.C. before returning to duty at MCLB Albany. He was deemed fully recovered from his injuries but still carries several pieces of shrapnel from the attack. On Dec. 7, after a request was made by Marine Corps Headquarters, the adoption was approved by the U.S. Air Force. Information from the Associated Press contributed to this article. [Mississippi] "Fallen Heroes" Respects For: Cpl. Dustin Jerome Lee | ||||||||||||||||||
Submitted by Elizabeth Hagwood Poster-#-4-
Webspace Provided by RootsWeb