Less than two years after joining the Army Infantry, Richard headed to Iraq for a 15-month combat deployment in Iraq's Anbar Province, also known as the "Triangle of Death." The soldiers' very first patrol resulted in severe injuries and a medivac. Firefights, mortar attacks, and IEDs were routine: “Multiple times a day, every day,” Richard said. “I got to the point where I didn’t care about anything at all. I had no fear. It was like my brain shut off. As a unit, we had a lot of hard days - more life-altering injuries and loss of life than I like to remember." Those events ultimately took their toll, and Richard medically retired. But it wasn’t until he connected with an Army buddy he’d served with – a fellow Leashes of Valor warrior – that he considered getting a service dog. Richard met Jersey, his four-legged assistive device, this month. “She’s already helping me a lot, especially in public. Because we are learning to work together, the whole time we’re in stores I’m only focused on her. The benefit was almost immediate,” he said. Despite the challenges Richard has faced, serving in the military "was really a positive thing. Overall, it put my life on a good path. I have no regrets, even with the bad stuff.” Thank you for your service, Richard. Welcome to the LOV family. We can't wait to see what you and Jersey accomplish together. #1leashsaves2lives #LOVstory #servicedogssavelives Sponsored by theateasemagazine.com facebook.com/...