Soldier-scholar saves an Iraqi pup

Hutchison adopted Laia, a stray he found on the base near Basra, Iraq.

Soldier-scholar saves an Iraqi pup
Before he was killed, Army Maj. Steven Hutchison, 60, gave aid and comfort to a stray found near Basra.
By Jason Felch
August 9, 2009
In his final months in Iraq, love came unexpectedly to Maj. Steven Hutchison.

His 11-man crew was running errands on an Army base near Basra when Hutchison ordered a lunch break.

The transition team, whose job was to train Iraqi police and soldiers, pulled their armored vehicles into the base's Subway restaurant and ordered sandwiches.

Hutchison paid, as was his wont, and gave the thumbs up to roll out, team members recall. But the logistics advisor threw back a thumbs down.

Soldiers had gathered around the back of one vehicle and were playing with a scrawny yellow puppy, one of the many strays that wander Iraqi streets.
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Soldier scholar saves an Iraqi pup