Volume 45 - No. 13
March 26, 2015
by lyle e davis
Alexandra Melnick is undeniably a beautiful woman.
Fashion model, movie star beautiful.
But behind that pretty face is a ton of worry, anxiety, fear and concern.
You see, Alexandra Melnick is a Marine. She served from 2009 through 2013, earned the rank of Corporal . . . joined the Marine Corps for the education benefits, hoping to obtain college tuition and support through the Corps upon her completion of her term of service. And she wanted the experience.
She got plenty of experience, she’ll be getting her college education.
She deployed to Afghanistan where she saw plenty of combat in Helmland Province, one of 34 provinces in Afghanistan . . . and one of the hottest combat zones. Her MOS (military occupational speciality) is 35.31 . . . which is military-speak for Motor Transport.
She drove equipment up to seven tons in weight . . . and while she was in the midst of many firefights and close to many IED (improvised explosive devices) detonations, she managed to return without substantial physical injury after nine months of service during the time period of 2011-2012.
She did not return totally undamaged, however. She sustained a back injury for which she is receiving therapy. She, like the majority of Marines returning from heavy combat duty, also suffers from both PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and TBI (traumatic brain injury). She has been rated as 90% disabled and is receiving ongoing treatment by the Veteran’s Administration. Our Hidden Valley Kiwanis Club has sponsored “Operation Hero” for the past six or seven years. Four times a year we invite Wounded Warriors to come in and tell their stories.
Almost every single trooper, Marine or Army, comes back from a combat zone with PTSD, The Paper - 760.747.7119
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and a fairly large number with TBI.
While Alexandra is a single woman, she is engaged to a Marine, and her fiance’ helps look after her and assist her in adapting to post-combat life.
But her biggest post-combat support came from Kai, her service dog that she was assigned. A beautiful German Shepherd who was devoted to her, the two became inseparable. Kai had been trained in all the areas a PTSD service dog needed to know to protect his human.
Kai was always there, always in a protection mood. Kai would stand between Alexandra and any approaching stranger or person outside the known ‘inner circle’ of trusted family and friends. Kai and Alexandra loved one another. Devoted to each other. Spent every day together. And then . . . and then, one day, Kai was gone.
It was the day after Thanksgiving, November 28, 2014. “I had been gone just for Thanksgiving and was informed that Kai was not in the house or
Kai, Come Home! Continued on Page 2
the backyard. I live in Vista, by 76 and College area in a gated community. I checked the shelters and nothing. He is chipped but not wearing a collar (since he was home he didn't need one).” Upon hearing the news that Kai was missing, Alexandra’s heart and spirits sank to the depths. Already filled with anxiety, fear and depression from PTSD, the impact now became even greater as her companion, her protector, her beloved Kai was nowhere to be found. Had he been stolen? Had he somehow gotten out of the yard and wandered about, looking for