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From Baghdad with Love: A Marine, The War, And A Dog Named Lava Paperback – June 3, 2008

by Jay Kopelman (Author), Melinda Roth (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 567 ratings
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From Baghdad, With Love: A Dog, A Marine, and the Love That Saved Them
From Baghdad, With Love: A Dog, A Marine, and the Love That Saved Them
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When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire. What they find during the U.S.–led attack on the “most dangerous city on Earth” in late 2004, however, is not an insurgent but a puppy left behind when most of the city's residents fled. Despite military law forbidding pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.

Thus begins the dramatic rescue of a dog named Lava―and Lava's rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war. From hardened soldiers to wartime journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love tells the unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-ridden refugee.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    216 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Lyons Press
  4. Publication date
    June 3, 2008
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1599211823
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1599211824
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Critical acclaim for From Baghdad with Love:

"A story that is both tender and thought-provoking—candidly portraying the ugly conditions in wartime Iraq, while also describing Kopelman's (and his fellow Marines') growing attachment to a scruffy stray puppy." —Amazon.com Review
   
"Heartwarming." —USA Today

"Not just a seasonal heart-warmer. It is a provocative examination of an issue that resonates deeply." in the wake of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay: Do 'softer' values, such as mercy for the weak, sabotage military morale or strengthen it?" —Washington Post

"A tale of radiant joy ... that eschews sentimentality. ... The story of Lava's journey out of Iraq is exciting, but it's to Kopelman and Roth's credit that it's not nearly as harrowing as the story of what the dog left behind." —Publishers Weekly

From the Back Cover

When Marines enter an abandoned house in Fallujah, Iraq, and hear a suspicious noise, they clench their weapons, edge around the corner, and prepare to open fire.
What they find during the U.S.–led attack on the “most dangerous city on Earth,” however, is not an insurgent bent on revenge but a tiny puppy left behind when most of the city's population fled before the bombing. Despite military law that forbids the keeping of pets, the Marines de-flea the pup with kerosene, de-worm him with chewing tobacco, and fill him up on Meals Ready to Eat.
Thus begins the dramatic rescue attempt of a dog named Lava―and Lava's rescue of at least one Marine, Lieutenant Colonel Jay Kopelman, from the emotional ravages of war.
From hardened Marines to wartime journalists to endangered Iraqi citizens, From Baghdad, With Love tells an unforgettable true story of an unlikely band of heroes who learn unexpected lessons about life, death, and war from a mangy little flea-
ridden refugee.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lyons Press; 1st edition (June 3, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1599211823
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1599211824
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 0.705 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 567 ratings

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Jay Kopelman

Jay Kopelman

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
567 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J. Palm
5.0 out of 5 stars From Baghdad, With Love
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2007
Verified Purchase
I would recommend this book to anyone!!!
ANY an animal lover would adore it! Its heartwarming, touching, funny, sad and it makes you want to help out the people who finally got Lava back to the states. Everyone did a terrific job.

I read this on a flight out West, I didnt want to put the book down. I couldnt wait to see HOW they got Lave back to the states. And to read about the horrors and sadness in Iraq, made me cry.

From the moment Jay saw Lava, he was destined to have that dog! To read about this strong, brave soldier doing everything he can to save this dog, was truly amazing! ALL the work he did, to get Lava home and to be free away from war, made me cry!

I passed the book onto another animal lover, I know she will love it as much as I did.
Dont hesitate..buy it - NOW!!
2 people found this helpful
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Curious Reader
4.0 out of 5 stars To the Reader, with Love
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2007
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Wow! While reading To Baghdad with Love, you use every human sensory application. It is almost overload. Get your tissues out and set your laugh meter. Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman has achieved something remarkable. He managed to write a story, using the war as the backdrop, to tell a story of love.

This is not about romance, but about the human spirit and how we protect ourselves from horror, the punishing kind of fear through no fault of your own, simply circumstances. He has found a way to deal with the death and destruction, say nothing of the inhumane torture around him, by loving a puppy. The determination and convoluted route he must take to achieve the task of rescuing Lava and shipping him back to US, keeps his mind from having to deal with the "other", the war!!

We know from the get-go that Lava, the pup so beloved that his master jumps through the proverbial hoops, is smuggled out of Iraq and presently lives with his master in California. Prior to that end result, the marine had to engage friends and colleagues and even press members, to assist him in his endeavor. An Iraqi, employed by the U.S. Marines, risks his life to help Lava. Iraqis, known to hate the dog specie, finds the pup so engaging, even he succumbs to aiding and abetting.

Reading the book is a rich, colorful, depressing, endearing, horrifying and unique experience. Read and become reacquainted with all of your senses.
2 people found this helpful
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ca
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2007
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This book is amazing! Amazon ended up sending me a signed copy somehow (thank you!), and that's great for me because this quickly became one of my favorite books! I'm a huge dog lover and love studying history and government and this book combined the two! It's actually a terrific account of the war and provides a lot of insight into what life is like for an American soldier in Iraq. It opened my eyes to a lot of little things that I never would have thought would be a big issue over there, but I feel like now I can relate a lot more to the family and friends who have spent many long months in the war. Thank you Jay Kopelman, hearing your story was magnificent and it's the first book I have read for fun since I started college 4 years ago :)
6 people found this helpful
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Lisa B--avid reader
5.0 out of 5 stars A "Must Read" Regardless of your views on the war in Iraq
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2006
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This is a heartwarming story that places the reader in war-torn Iraq with the US military trying to complete their mission. It is told in such a way that you can't put it down, and you feel thast you are there with them, and are living the story as it unfolds. It also makes it easy to understand how the "Lava Dogs" receive comfort in caring for a puppy amid the horror around them. The book makes NO judgements about the war or the US presence in Iraq being right or wrong, and no matter what the reader's views on the war are (or even if the reader is a dog owner/lover), this is a heartwarming story about the bond between a soldier and a dog during adverse times for both of them.
6 people found this helpful
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J. Daniels
5.0 out of 5 stars From Baghdad with Love
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2009
Verified Purchase
This book shows a true picture of the US soldier and the war in Iraq. The gut wrenching horrors of the terrorist oppression of the Iraqi citizens and the noble fight to prevent them from killing thousands of innocent people. The struggles the US soldiers have staying alive and the warm heart of our soldiers and their need for love in the midst of a bloody jihad. Lava fulfills their need to give love during this horrible time. One soldier takes a stand to defend the life of a dog that helped his squad wind down from the horrors of the day. In the end, upon the soldiers return home, he is confronted with the ignorance of the US media and their inability to understand the importance of not only Lava's life, but the protection of the innocent Iraqi's that are being murdered by the jihadist terrorist. My son, a US soldier, recommended this book to me. I loved it. I have recommended it to others. It will make you laugh, cry, shudder and think. Amazing work by a US soldier and a 191 page book.
3 people found this helpful
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Miggy
4.0 out of 5 stars Tough Love
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book is a quick read with journal like entries as chapters. The story line is compelling in the starked contrasts between the reality and terror of the war in Irag and the power and innocense of canine affection. Anyone who has a dog can totally relate to the author's imperative to rescue one particular dog among many other dogs living short and dangerous lives in the middle of IEDs, RPGs, and other lethal weapons. The author emotionally reveals the cracks in the Marine's tough hide as he and his comrades seek to rescue a very cute puppy. Of course by the time the rescue is complete the pupply has almost fully grown. The book also shows the power of communication technology via internet and emails to a variety of individuals and organizations involved in the rescue. I found the book very moving inspite of the tragedy of the Iraq War.
2 people found this helpful
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John McCutcheon
5.0 out of 5 stars A very happy story! A dog lovers book.
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2022
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It was stressful reading this , I just couldn’t see how it was going to turn out the way I wanted it to. You will not be disappointed.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Khushnoor Dastoor
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on February 6, 2018
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A soul-stirring read!
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Nancy B
5.0 out of 5 stars The Chosen One
Reviewed in Canada on September 28, 2014
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I selected this book because Melinda Roth is one of the authors - I think she is an exceptional writer and I will read anything with her name on it. Though this story had a different tone, it is a very good read with some interesting observations about the Iraq war. The final scene with the dog arriving in the US is worth a good cry. Jay Kopelman was truly blessed to be chosen by this dog.
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Lisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Einfach zu lesen
Reviewed in Germany on March 5, 2016
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Ich bin erst am Anfang vom Buch, es ist aber sehr fesselnd für mich. Da die Geschichte wahr ist, leide ich persönlich etwas mehr mit als bei einer fiktiven Geschichte.
One person found this helpful
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Anna Barbara Busseti
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love Dogs....
Reviewed in Italy on October 8, 2015
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A good heart-warming book! If you love dogs (and animals) you should have it at home. You're gonna love it from the first page 😊
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Joy
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2012
Verified Purchase
This book tells the true story of a U.S. Marine who befriended a puppy in Baghdad and his struggle to keep it alive and return it to The U.S. It is well written with lovely photos. He obviously loves this dog very much. I found this a very emotional book to read as a dog lover myself. I have loaned it to many friends who are all of the same opinion. Well worth a read. A real feel good factor in this!
2 people found this helpful
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