Incredible Journey: Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, & A Miracle by Brian Dennis

Outside a border fort in the desert of western Iraq, a small, thin dog watched and waited. His ears had been cut off to make him a dog of war. He had no name, and no person to call his own.

What's better than the story of a boy and his dog? How about the story of a Marine and semi-wild desert dog who adopts him. Brian Dennis names the dog Nubs for his lopped ears, and the dog rewards him with instant affection.

In five minutes Brian has taught Nubs to sit and shake; that night they share the squad's MRE of spaghetti and strawberry Pop-Tarts, and Nubs stands guard with Brian that night and every night. But Marines are forbidden to have pets, and the next day Brian has to climb into his Humvee and return to base camp. But Nubs refuses to say goodbye, running more than a mile until the vehicles are out of sight in the desert.

Winter comes, and when the squad returns again to the fort, Nubs is waiting, terribly hurt, but still glad to see his Marine. Brian and his buddies treat the wound; unable to lie down because of the pain, Nubs nevertheless walks the perimeter on guard duty with Brian that night. Nubs begins to recover, only to be alone again and again as the Marines follow their assignments in the area. At last Nubs refuses to be left behind.

Nubs cried as he chased them across the cold, coarse sand. Because of his wound, he could not keep up. He dropped to the sand exhausted and completely alone.

When Nubs sat up, the Humvees were out of sight. He struggled to his feet and began walking. Two snowy days and 70 miles later, Nubs limped into the headquarters, where Brian was working.

This time Brian finds a way so that he and Nubs can be together always. With the help of many others moved by Nubs story-- buddies, friends back home, his interpreter's brother, and even the King of Jordan--Nubs makes an even longer journey, all the way to Brian's home town of San Diego, where he waits with friends until the two are joyfully reunited when Brian is rotated home at last.

Written with the help of Kirby Larson and Mary Nethery, authors of the noted Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival, Major Brian Dennis' Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine & a Miracle (Little, Brown) tells a wonderful story of loyalty and love that kids of all ages will love. Illustrated with photos from the field and of the reunited best friends, this is a great dog story for all times.

See more of this incredible journey here: