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| Jay Kopelman |
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| Copyright 2008 © Barry M. Baker, Canines-and-Felines.com |
| Canines and Felines Authors |
During his last tour of duty in Iraq, international
bestselling author Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman of the
US Marines adopted an abandoned puppy left
behind during the battle for Fallujah. Upon his
return to the US, he recounted the remarkable
story in The New York Times, Times of London,
Australian and Brazilian bestselling memoir, From
Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a
Dog Named Lava. With both a tender, and yet
bestselling author Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman of the
US Marines adopted an abandoned puppy left
behind during the battle for Fallujah. Upon his
return to the US, he recounted the remarkable
story in The New York Times, Times of London,
Australian and Brazilian bestselling memoir, From
Baghdad, With Love: A Marine, the War, and a
Dog Named Lava. With both a tender, and yet
thought-provoking perspective, he found hope in the grim realities of
wartime Iraq, in his, and his fellow Marines' growing attachment to a
scruffy stray puppy they named Lava.
Now retired from the Marine Corps, Lt. Col. Kopelman was last stationed
at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. He began his military career in the
US Navy in 1985, training to become a Naval Aviator; he transferred to
the Marine Corps in 1992, where he became a forward air controller and
earned his gold naval parachutist wings while assigned to 1st Air/Naval
Gunfire Liaison Company.
In 1996, Kopelman left active duty to pursue opportunities in the Internet
and financial services industries. He stayed active in the Marine Corps
Reserve, and was recalled to active duty after September 11, 2001.
During his career, he has made multiple overseas deployments to
Okinawa, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and twice to Iraq, participating in
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In 2004, as the Special Operations Forces Liaison Officer for the 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force, Kopelman was deployed to Iraq to train the
Iraqi Special Forces. He was assigned as the liaison officer to an Iraqi
Army battalion, and they entered Fallujah in November to battle
insurgents for control of the city. It was there that he met and adopted
Lava who had been abandoned during the days before the invasion.
When Kopelman returned from Iraq, he was asked to help train the
Marines who would return to Iraq as advisors to the Iraqi armed forces
and police. His last assignment was as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff
for advisor training at 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Speaking to
audiences about his experience in Iraq, while sharing his story of Lava,
he also addresses his journey of leadership, and his perspectives on
current world events, terrorism, and how politics will affect Iraq and the
world.
Kopelman is a competitive bicyclist, and a member of the UC
Cyclery/Specialized/JW Floors racing team in San Diego. He contributes
his time and Lava's name recognition to various domestic and
international animal rescue organizations to help raise awareness and
money for abandoned and assistance animals: the Helen Woodward
Animal Center, Canine Companions for Independence, Dutchypuppy and
Humane Society International. He also recently served on the board of
directors of the Enduring Freedom Killed in Action Fund, and donates a
portion of his book’s earnings to the Freedom Is Not Free Fund, based in
San Diego. Kopelman and his wife are both avid surfers. They live in San
Diego with their children, two dogs and a cat.
wartime Iraq, in his, and his fellow Marines' growing attachment to a
scruffy stray puppy they named Lava.
Now retired from the Marine Corps, Lt. Col. Kopelman was last stationed
at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA. He began his military career in the
US Navy in 1985, training to become a Naval Aviator; he transferred to
the Marine Corps in 1992, where he became a forward air controller and
earned his gold naval parachutist wings while assigned to 1st Air/Naval
Gunfire Liaison Company.
In 1996, Kopelman left active duty to pursue opportunities in the Internet
and financial services industries. He stayed active in the Marine Corps
Reserve, and was recalled to active duty after September 11, 2001.
During his career, he has made multiple overseas deployments to
Okinawa, Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, and twice to Iraq, participating in
Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.
In 2004, as the Special Operations Forces Liaison Officer for the 1st
Marine Expeditionary Force, Kopelman was deployed to Iraq to train the
Iraqi Special Forces. He was assigned as the liaison officer to an Iraqi
Army battalion, and they entered Fallujah in November to battle
insurgents for control of the city. It was there that he met and adopted
Lava who had been abandoned during the days before the invasion.
When Kopelman returned from Iraq, he was asked to help train the
Marines who would return to Iraq as advisors to the Iraqi armed forces
and police. His last assignment was as the Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff
for advisor training at 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. Speaking to
audiences about his experience in Iraq, while sharing his story of Lava,
he also addresses his journey of leadership, and his perspectives on
current world events, terrorism, and how politics will affect Iraq and the
world.
Kopelman is a competitive bicyclist, and a member of the UC
Cyclery/Specialized/JW Floors racing team in San Diego. He contributes
his time and Lava's name recognition to various domestic and
international animal rescue organizations to help raise awareness and
money for abandoned and assistance animals: the Helen Woodward
Animal Center, Canine Companions for Independence, Dutchypuppy and
Humane Society International. He also recently served on the board of
directors of the Enduring Freedom Killed in Action Fund, and donates a
portion of his book’s earnings to the Freedom Is Not Free Fund, based in
San Diego. Kopelman and his wife are both avid surfers. They live in San
Diego with their children, two dogs and a cat.