The uplifting and unforgettable true story of a US Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together, "spreading the message of stubborn positivity." In 2010, Sergeant Craig Grossi was doing intelligence work for Marine RECON--the most elite fighters in the Corps--in a remote part of Afghanistan. While on patrol, he spotted a young dog "with a big goofy head and little legs" who didn't seem vicious or run in a pack like most strays they'd encountered. After eating a piece of beef jerky Craig offered--against military regulations--the dog began to follow him. "Looks like you made a friend," another Marine yelled. Grossi heard, "Looks like a 'Fred.'" The name stuck, and a beautiful, life-changing friendship was forged. Fred not only stole Craig's heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fortified Camp Leatherneck in a duffel bag--risking jail and Fred's life. With the help of a crew of DHL workers, a sympathetic vet, and a military dog handler, Fred eventually made it to Craig's family in Virginia. Months later, when Craig returned to the U.S., it was Fred's turn to save the wounded Marine from Post-Traumatic Stress. Today, Craig and Fred are touching lives nationwide, from a swampy campground in a Louisiana State Park to the streets of Portland, Oregon, and everywhere in between. A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart--"it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it"--Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives.

The uplifting and unforgettable true story of a US Marine, the stray dog he met on an Afghan battlefield, and how they saved each other and now travel America together, "spreading the message of stubborn positivity." In 2010, Sergeant Craig Grossi was doing intelligence work for Marine RECON--the most elite fighters in the Corps--in a remote part of Afghanistan. While on patrol, he spotted a young dog "with a big goofy head and little legs" who didn't seem vicious or run in a pack like most strays they'd encountered. After eating a piece of beef jerky Craig offered--against military regulations--the dog began to follow him. "Looks like you made a friend," another Marine yelled. Grossi heard, "Looks like a 'Fred.'" The name stuck, and a beautiful, life-changing friendship was forged. Fred not only stole Craig's heart; he won over the RECON fighters, who helped Craig smuggle the dog into heavily fortified Camp Leatherneck in a duffel bag--risking jail and Fred's life. With the help of a crew of DHL workers, a sympathetic vet, and a military dog handler, Fred eventually made it to Craig's family in Virginia. Months later, when Craig returned to the U.S., it was Fred's turn to save the wounded Marine from Post-Traumatic Stress. Today, Craig and Fred are touching lives nationwide, from a swampy campground in a Louisiana State Park to the streets of Portland, Oregon, and everywhere in between. A poignant and inspiring tale of hope, resilience, and optimism, with a timeless message at its heart--"it is not what happens to us that matters, but how we respond to it"--Craig & Fred is a shining example of the power of love to transform our hearts and our lives.

The author of the heartwarming Craig and Fred tells the deeply emotional and inspiring story of the next phase of their lives together: working closely with prison inmates in Maine who raise and train puppies to become service dogs. Former US Marine Craig Grossi and his dog Fred appeared on the Today show and Rachael Ray, and in schools, bookstores, and military bases across America as they told the uplifting story of how Craig found Fred, a stray, while serving in Afghanistan-and brought him home. During their travels, Craig was invited to speak at Maine State Prison-the penitentiary that inspired Stephen King's famous Shawshank. While there, he met a group of very special inmates, participants in a program run by the nonprofit America's Vet Dogs. Craig discovered that many of the prisoners are veterans-former soldiers serving their country in an entirely different way: by transforming purebred Labrador Retrievers from floppy puppies into indispensable companions for disabled vets. These service dogs literally and figuratively open doors for men and women, offering hope and a renewed sense of freedom. Yet these disabled vets are not the only lives changed by these dogs. The inmates who train them "are given a purpose, they're given experience, and most importantly they're given a sense of self-worth," Craig explains. "The men at Maine State are given a second chance-something that I believe everyone deserves." For Craig, the visit had a profound impact. "There was something special going on inside its walls and it was calling out to me. I quickly realized that the program and its men had something to show the world." In this emotionally powerful book, he introduces these men and challenges us to look deeper, to see them as human beings deserving of a new shot at life. "We're quick to give second chances to celebrities, politicians and famous athletes when they screw up," Craig reminds us, "but when it comes to those who've been convicted for their mistakes, we too often dismiss them as forever lost." Second Chances poignantly shows that no life is irredeemable and that each of us can make a difference if given the opportunity.

A heartwarming story of a stray dog and a U.S. Marine who met under the unlikeliest circumstances in Afghanistan--and who changed each other's lives forever. As part of an elite team of Marines, Craig Grossi was sent on his most dangerous assignment to the Sangin District of Afghanistan. He expected to face harsh conditions and violence from Taliban fighters. What he didn't expect was to meet a stray dog, with a big goofy head and little legs--a dog all on his own, filthy and covered in bugs, in a bomb-ridden district, but who carried himself with confidence. And even though the Marines have a rule against approaching strays, Craig couldn't help but offer some food and a pat--and was shocked when the dog wagged his tail. From that moment on, they were inseparable; whether out on missions or back at the base, the dog named Fred went along. When the time came for Craig to leave Afghanistan, he knew that Fred had to leave with him no matter what. And as Craig tried to get acclimated to civilian life, Fred was there for him. This book tells the inspiring story of two friends who ultimately rescued each other, and the stubborn positivity and love that continue to shape their world.