Run For The Wall Homepage
Forum Home Forum Home >RFTW General Discussion >General Discussion >Archive
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed - Reggie aka "Tank"
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Reggie aka "Tank"

 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
skeater View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: Apr-29-2011
Location: Crestline, Ca.
Status: Offline
Points: 385
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote skeater Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Reggie aka "Tank"
    Posted: May-01-2012 at 4:17pm
This has been around before, but still gives me a tear. Got it from Mayor Jackie and his bride:

This is a very touching storyCry

They told me the big black Lab's name was Reggie, as I looked at him lying in his pen. The shelter was clean, no-kill, and the people really friendly.

I'd only been in the area for six months, but everywhere I went in the small college town, people were welcoming and open. Everyone waves when you pass them on the street.  But something was still missing as I attempted to settle in to my new life here, and I thought a dog couldn't hurt. Give me someone to talk to. And I had just seen Reggie's advertisement on the local news. The shelter said they had received numerous calls right after, but they said the people who had come down to see him just didn't look like "Lab people," whatever that meant. They must've thought I did.

But at first, I thought the shelter had misjudged me in giving me Reggie and his things, which consisted of a dog pad, bag of toys almost all of which were brand new tennis balls, his dishes and a sealed letter from his previous owner.

See, Reggie and I didn't really hit it off when we got home. We struggled for two weeks (which is how long the shelter told me to give him to adjust to his new home). Maybe it was the fact that I was trying to adjust, too.  Maybe we were too much alike.

I remembered the sealed envelope. I had completely forgotten about that. "Okay, Reggie," I said out loud, "let's see if your previous owner has any advice."

To Whomever Gets My Dog:

Well, I can't say that I'm happy you're reading this, a letter I told the shelter could only be opened by Reggie's new owner. I'm not even happy writing it. He knew something was different.

So let me tell you about my Lab in the hopes that it will help you bond with him and he with you.

First, he loves tennis balls. The more the merrier. Sometimes I think he's part squirrel, the way he hoards them. He usually always has two in his mouth, and he tries to get a third in there. Hasn't done it yet. Doesn't matter where you throw them, he'll bound after them, so be careful. Don't do it by any roads.

Next, commands. Reggie knows the obvious ones ---"sit," "stay," "come," "heel."  He knows hand signals, too: He knows "ball" and "food" and "bone" and "treat" like nobody's business.

Feeding schedule: twice a day, regular store-bought stuff; the shelter has the brand.

He's up on his shots. Be forewarned: Reggie hates the vet. Good luck getting him in the car. I don't know how he knows when it's time to go to the vet, but he knows.

Finally, give him some time. It's only been Reggie and me for his whole life. He's gone everywhere with me, so please include him on your daily car rides if you can. He sits well in the backseat, and he doesn't bark or complain. He just loves to be around people, and me most especially.



And that's why I need to share one more bit of info with you...His name's not Reggie. He's a smart dog, he'll get used to it and will respond to it, of that I have no doubt. But I just couldn't bear to give them his real name. But if someone is reading this ... well it means that his new owner should know his real name. His real name is "Tank." Because, that is what I drive.

I told the shelter that they couldn't make "Reggie" available for adoption until they received word from my company commander. You see, my parents are gone, I have no siblings, no one I could've left Tank with ... and it was my only real request of the Army upon my deployment to Iraq, that they make one phone call to the shelter ... in the "event"....to tell them that Tank could be put up for adoption. Luckily, my CO is a dog-guy, too, and he knew where my platoon was headed. He said he'd do it personally. And if you're reading this, then he made good on his word.

Tank has been my family for the last six years, almost as long as the Army has been my family. And now I hope and pray that you make him part of your family, too, and that he will adjust and come to love you the same way he loved me.

If I have to give up Tank to keep those terrible people from coming to the US I am glad to have done so. He is my example of service and of love. I hope I honored him by my service to my country and comrades.

All right, that's enough. I deploy this evening and have to drop this letter off at the shelter. Maybe I'll peek in on him and see if he finally got that third tennis ball in his mouth.

Good luck with Tank. Give him a good home, and give him an extra kiss goodnight - every night - from me.

Thank you,  Paul Mallory

____________________________________

I folded the letter and slipped it back in the envelope. Sure, I had heard of Paul Mallory, everyone in town knew him, even new people like me. Local kid, killed in Iraq a few months ago and posthumously earning the Silver Star when he gave his life to save three buddies. Flags had been at half-mast all summer.

I leaned forward in my chair and rested my elbows on my knees, staring at the dog.

"Hey, Tank," I said quietly.  The dog's head whipped up, his ears cocked and his eyes bright.  "C'mere boy."
He was instantly on his feet, his nails clicking on the hardwood floor. He sat in front of me, his head tilted, searching for the name he hadn't heard in months. "Tank," I whispered.  His tail swished.

I kept whispering his name, over and over, and each time, his ears lowered, his eyes softened, and his posture relaxed as a wave of contentment just seemed to flood him. I stroked his ears, rubbed his shoulders, buried my face into his scruff and hugged him.

"It's me now, Tank, just you and me. Your old pal gave you to me." Tank reached up and licked my cheek.


"So whatdaya say we play some ball?" His ears perked again.  "Yeah? Ball? You like that? Ball?"  Tank tore from my hands and disappeared into the next room. And when he came back, he had three tennis balls in his mouth.



If you can read this without getting a lump in your throat or a tear in your eye, you just ain't right.

A veteran is someone who, at one point, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America' for an amount of 'up to and including their life.'

That is Honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it.

"The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him."
~~G. K. Chesterton~~


RFTW ATW 1997-2006,2008,2010 RFTW PART:2007,2009,2011,2012

What you are is God's gift to you; What you become is your gift to God

Skeater USMC 64-68 (VMFA-542 & 323) SEMPER FI
Back to Top
TX Dusty View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: Dec-06-2009
Location: Belton, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 60
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TX Dusty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-01-2012 at 4:47pm
Great story...thanks for posting.
USMC 1964-1969 (RVN 65-66)

USA 1969-1987 (RVN 70-71)

USA 2004-2007 (OIF 05-06)
Back to Top
Gallupe View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: Oct-07-2009
Location: Peculiar, MO
Status: Offline
Points: 976
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Gallupe Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-01-2012 at 4:54pm
Excellent.
Gallupe, USAF-RET 7/1978 to 8/1998

Honoring all who serve. Remember and paying respects for all who paid the ultimate price to keep us free.
Back to Top
Roadthing View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie
Avatar

Joined: Sep-30-2009
Location: Almost Heaven
Status: Offline
Points: 73
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Roadthing Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-01-2012 at 6:15pm
We ride for those who can't.
Roadthing
Back to Top
toad6301 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: May-11-2011
Location: ColoradoCity,TX
Status: Offline
Points: 174
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote toad6301 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-01-2012 at 7:14pm
Originally posted by Roadthing Roadthing wrote:

We ride for those who can't.
 
Amen, let's ride.
 
2009 Ultra Classic

U.S.Navy vet 1981-85,1990-93

STG1 USS Elmer Montgomery,Miller,and Olendorf

CMA chaplain and Patriot Guard member
Back to Top
Ice Scout View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: Sep-29-2009
Location: St. Michaels AZ
Status: Offline
Points: 255
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ice Scout Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-01-2012 at 9:09pm
Amen.
Back to Top
TX Dusty View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: Dec-06-2009
Location: Belton, TX
Status: Offline
Points: 60
Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote TX Dusty Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May-02-2012 at 10:55am
skeater, drop me an email at rdipboye@prodigy.net.
USMC 1964-1969 (RVN 65-66)

USA 1969-1987 (RVN 70-71)

USA 2004-2007 (OIF 05-06)
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply
  Share Topic   

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 10.03
Copyright ©2001-2011 Web Wiz Ltd.