Marine's wish honored as mascot comes home
Kathy Wright can't replace her Marine son who was killed in Iraq, but later this week she will honor his request and adopt the company mascot, a dog named Beans. (enterer's note: 3/25)
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Michael Sangiacomo
Plain Dealer Reporter
Kathy Wright can't replace her Marine son who was killed in Iraq, but later this week she will honor his request and adopt the company mascot, a dog named Beans.
Just weeks before Cpl. Jeffrey Allen Boskovitch, 25, was killed by small-arms fire outside Haditha, Iraq on Aug. 1, he emailed his mother about Beans.
The dog got the name because Boskovitch and his fellow Marines bought the mixed-breed pup from Iraqi villagers for a quarter and three jelly beans.
He hoped to bring the dog home with him when his tour of duty was up in August. Boskovitch was killed Aug. 1 along with five other Marine snipers.
Barring complications, his wish will come true when Beans arrives at the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment headquarters on Snow Road in Brook Park sometime this week.
Initially, the Marines and the military said it was against regulations to bring Beans to the United States on a military transport.
Wright's efforts to cut through red tape eventually led her to the Pentagon, to the office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. Michael W. Hagee.
"Gen. Hagee told the mother he would get it done," said Hagee's spokesman Maj. Jason Johnston. "He put his staff on it and it has been worked out.
The dog will be on her way. If Beans can comfort the mother of a fallen Marine, then it is our pleasure to help."
Maj. Jenny Potter, a spokeswoman for the Brook Park headquarters, said the dog's arrival is due toWright's determination.
"She wanted this to happen, and she worked on it until she pushed it through," Potter said.
Wright said she will bring the dog to her home as soon as it ar rives, but will isolate Beans from her other dogs, Chloe and Daisy.
"We'll keep her separated until I can have some blood tests done to make sure she is not carrying any illnesses from ticks or sand flies," she said. "I know everyone will get along."
She said she still believes Beans is part of her son's unit and that she will share the dog with the local Marines.
"If they want me to bring her to watch them march or train, I'd be glad to," she said. "Beans belonged to the whole company, not just my son."
She said getting Beans will provide a bit of relief.
"It's bittersweet," she said. "Beans is not a replacement for my son, but a welcome addition to my family."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
msangiacomo@plaind.com, 216-999-4890