Craig and Fred: A Marine, a Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
Written and Narrated By: Craig Grossi
Length: 8 hrs and 5 mins
One of the finest New Releases I’ve chucked a credit at! First-rate story!!!
I have this Thing… about Veterans and all they’ve seen; all they’ve given; all they’ve survived. And it’s my Life’s goal to Serve in whatever capabilities I have. They’re… well, awesome is an incorrect word, and I wouldn’t wanna show a blatant disregard for what they’ve been through by throwing a warm and fuzzy blanket over everything with a: They’re my heroes. That doesn’t seem correct either. So hmmm, p’raps I just think they’ve given all and deserve the BEST we have for them when they come Home.
That said?
I dunno what to say to them. Like, At All. “Thank you for your Service”? Jeez, can anything be less adequate?
And after listening to a gazillion (And six!) hours of Military Histories and Bio/Memoirs? Soooo much?
Well, I STILL don’t know what to say.
And after listening to the truly warm and terrific Craig and Fred?
Well, I STILL don’t know what to say.
Fortunately, for author (And Best Buddy O’ Fred the Afghan) Craig Rossi, the heavens opened and rained down Grace upon him when he met and befriended a ragged and hungry pup whilst serving in Afghanistan. After moving mountains to get him back to the States, he discovers on a road trip with a fellow Veteran that Fred is the Best Conversation Starter… EVER.
Now see, here’s the deal, and here’s where Craig Rossi just flat-out phrases it: Ya can’t say ANYthing that’ll truly get you there with the Veteran because combat is one hell of a thing, and the only people who CAN say and do the right things are other Veterans. Not only that, but ones who haven’t been at desk jobs but who’ve seen the real deal.
Rossi feels that incredible disconnect between Civilians and Military and it grew ever wider when he experienced combat, walked through muddy fields as the Taliban regularly sniped at him and his buddies; witnessed feats of courage when chopper personnel made extraordinary landings to get wounded comrades out of battle… only to later learn that even such heroism wasn’t enough to save those good friends; lived nights and days in an adrenaline-fueled rush as Time became just something to get through, hoping to survive, hoping not to see much-loved companions vaporized.
What then, truly, did Home mean? And how on earth could he survive when his perception of even family, and friends, and certainly the general populace, just couldn’t get who he now was or what he’d experienced? When he felt that p’raps they were just waiting for him to fall apart? Or that p’raps they’d Judge without Knowing?
And maybe he didn’t know how to, well, speak?
Enter the road trip with Josh, fellow Veteran, an amputee who’s itching to just live and embrace the world, to test his limitations, -AND- with Fred. On soooo many occasions, it was just Josh and Rossi, sitting together, at ease with each other but feeling a tad isolated -until- Fred opened doors. What a great dog! they’d hear. To be followed by Josh: Fred has a great story; tell them his story, Craig. And Rossi would find himself smoothly easing into Afghanistan, letting people know that They Were There, and no, they’re not ready to explode.
Until he does. Because, you see, Rossi had many near misses, lived through too many attacks, wore the blood of friends on his clothes after being unable to save them. He doesn’t speak of it, and when other Veteran friends DO open up? Rossi can’t get to a safe place fast enough. And the tears, the sobbing, feels like it’ll never stop.
Rossi narrates this himself, and while an author presenting his own work can be iffy? He truly does an admirable job, totally at ease with speaking his story, Fred’s story. Sometimes a bit stilted, and other people he talks to or shares warm companionship with come off a weeee bit flat, but he definitely captures the essence of their voices, the way he heard them and absorbed their words. And his pain? Oh, it’s there…
Craig and Fred is a wonderful journey, and many thanks to “The Dodo” for bringing their story to the public’s attention; CERtainly oh so many thanks to Rossi for putting it all out there in words that are at times gut-wrenching (Day by day in combat), at times so incredibly inspiring (There are truly some good people out there!), at times simply fun (Fred up for ANYthing!). And kudos to fellow Veteran Josh for talking to other amputees, showing them what can be done, and for jumping off low cliffs, sans prosthesis, filling an awed crowd of onlookers with joy, sending out cheers and applause.
8-hours just flew by with danged fine stories (DHL ROCKS for how much they did for Fred! Other service members ROCK for keeping him hidden on base, for “repurposing” an extra dog crate to get Fred out of Afghanistan, for the snacks, for the love they gave an unwanted pup!). Just all-around great, and as I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for possible Animal Picks whenst I scroll through New Releases, I must heartily applaud myself for getting this, like, posthaste. Just lovely.
Nope, still don’t know exACTly what to say that’ll let a Veteran know that I care.
Maybe?
Just a quiet hello, an offer of coffee, an offer of empty space, sacred, waiting to be filled with whatever flows…
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