Dog Rescued In Iraq Returns To Fallen Soldier's Family, Beam Of Light Shines Down

The night before Justin Rollins was killed by a roadside bomb, he completed one final heroic act while serving in Iraq. He saved an abandoned puppy, ABC reports.

The Army fulfilled the Rollins' request to bring the dog home from the war zone, so that they could hold onto a living piece of their fallen son. They named him Hero.

While visiting the family in Newport, N.H., ABC reporter Kimberly Launier watched and photographed the pooch as he trotted out to the backyard and a beam of light shined down on him, creating a "vertical halo."

"It was an unforgettable moment," Launier wrote on her blog, "and made me wonder if in fact Justin was in there."

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Comments

[Fourpawz]

01:02 PM on 12/29/2011

All that effort, politicians involved and they brought back 1 puppy? What about the puppy's siblings? Why not rescue the litter? Dogs are treated horrible in Iraq, It's a lovely story, but they could have saved the other puppies too.

[endplaybrooke]

06:40 PM on 12/06/2011

Beautiful - I'm sure it brought a lot of comfort to the family.

[Disillusioned One]

08:52 AM on 12/06/2011

Coincidence? Happenstance? It happened at the right moment for Justin's family and brought them great comfort. That's all that matters.

[scjcram]

07:23 PM on 12/05/2011

Lovely story about a brave man... but the camera woman is LYING about the light beam.

Here is the video taken during the time when this photo were made:
http://news.yahoo.com/video/us-15749625/puppy-hero-given-to-fallen-soldier-s-parents-27475198.html#crsl=%252Fvideo%252Fus-15749625%252Fpuppy-hero-given-to-fallen-soldier-s-parents-27475198.html

I have been doing professional photography / videography for decades, and that is obviously direct sunlight hitting on the glass part of the camera lens. You see all the flares and ghostings running along the center of the lightbeam? That's NOT a light beam shining on the dog, ... you see the dog's shadow way before the FAKE "light beam" sppears, and the shadow did NOT get stronger when the fake "light beam" appears either. The fake "light beam" gets stronger when the camera points towards the sky/sun because that's flares from the lens! The dog's shadow DID NOT get stronger when the light gets stronger... that's a proof that direct sun light has been shining on the dog all this time, and the FAKE "light beam" was just flares from the lens.

That camera women should not have LIED to the faces of the soldier's parents like that. Just say it's a beautiful scene, but don't LIE and say the light beam shines on the dog. She is a dirty, untrustworthy LIAR!

[Rider3]

05:34 PM on 12/06/2011

It's great that you're a professional and understand how things work, but couldn't you have let this little slip of a nice story go in order to give the parents (and others) some comfort? Sometimes it's best to know you are correct in silence.

[The Bald Eagle]

06:40 PM on 12/07/2011

Bah humbug. Whether it's a beam of light or lens flare doesn't matter. Either way, it's little more than a chance trick of light.

Regardless, it's a good story and a good shot. Don't be such a grumpy old man.

[sistergh]

07:16 PM on 12/02/2011

I prefer to see a fallen soldier in a beam of light than a Kardashian or anyone from the Jersey Shore.
God Bless this family.

[sistergh]

07:13 PM on 12/02/2011

There is no more unconditional love than that of a beloved animal. I see Justin in that light. I am not very religious but I see this as a comfort to his family and that's a beutiful thing.

[dvncmdy]

01:54 PM on 12/01/2011

Very touching.....

[Jessica Ustaszewski]

11:14 PM on 11/30/2011

There are some things we cannot explain and the first thing we, as humans try to do, is to find an answer.
But sometimes, it's best to leave it be. To debunk a comforting thought that may help ease a person's suffering....well, THAT'S unexplainable.

[sistergh]

07:08 PM on 12/02/2011

I'm afraid my faith isn't what it should be. However, I absolutely choose to believe this beam of light was Justin. Hope is a beautiful thing.

[Janet Wright]

05:43 PM on 11/30/2011

What's GOD spelled backwards???

[MizLiz]

05:40 PM on 11/30/2011

A beautiful story...gonna need a hankie in a minute...

[John Rutter]

04:01 PM on 11/30/2011

How about you learn more about the soldier this family is mourning...as well as the others that were all killed the same day...This isn't about adopting a dog or adopting a war orphan or anything else you sorry excuses want to make it about to spew your political perspective. This is about a family who lost their son and how they are coping with it. How THAT DOG..has helped them. THAT DOG..not a war orphan is the last picture we all have to remember Rollins...Again..check out the slideshows on this link and put a face with this article before you spew your ignorance.

http://santillan.cc/Samarra7/

[hattie54]

02:14 PM on 11/30/2011

America is full of fools but then are they really American or foreigners?Woe on that beam of light shining on the dog.

[resquedog]

11:57 AM on 11/30/2011

Title: Not Photoshopped: Beam of Light Shines on Fallen Soldier’s Miracle Dog

Reported by ABC News’ Kimberly Launier

" . . . I couldn’t wait to check my camera’s playback to see if it caught the stunning beam. When I saw that it did, I was so happy that I burst out dancing. It was a great moment to share with Justin’s parents. We all laughed together, and wondered if perhaps this had been a sign from Justin."

Watch the full story Friday on “20/20″ at 10 p.m. ET and read more about Hero and Justin here.

source: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2011/11/not-photoshopped-beam-of-light-shines-on-fallen-soldiers-miracle-dog/

[imagirlpatriot]

10:01 AM on 11/30/2011

You either get or you don't. That's the funny thing about belief and devotion, there is no in between. That is also the beauty of animals & children, they exhibit pure love & devotion without even knowing the definition. They do not require scientific proof for every single thing. Some things are beyond "Conventional" explanation. They can be picked apart and analyzed to death, but the truth is - you either get it or you don't. And I truly hope you get it! I pray that the family can find some peace and solace, in their time of sorrow, from any source available to them.

[Amy Fundenburg]

02:18 AM on 11/30/2011

A lot of mean spirited comments posted here. The family asked for the dog. Nothing can replace their lost soon, but Hero can help ease their sorrow. I'm glad all those involved were able to fulfill this family's request.