Murphy

[Ajay Joe @joedelhi]

Left behind in Kabul. Alone. He waited 47 days.

K-9 Chaos was not a dog who did his job. He was a dog who had DECIDED, completely, permanently, without reservation, that Lieutenant Marcus Webb was coming back for him. No matter how long it took.

At Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, on the morning of August 30th, 2021, a three-year-old Belgian Malinois sat in an empty aircraft hangar. The last American plane had left six hours ago. The evacuation was over.

Chaos had been left behind.

Not intentionally. The chaos of the withdrawal. The panic. The rush. Webb had been separated from Chaos during the final evacuation. Put on a different plane. Told Chaos would be on the next flight.

There was no next flight.

Chaos survived the first day alone. Waiting at the hangar where Webb had left him.

Chaos survived the first week. Scavenging food from abandoned military supplies.

Chaos survived 47 days in Taliban-controlled Kabul. Alone. Hiding. Waiting.

Because Chaos survived on the belief that Webb wouldn't leave him forever.

Back in the United States, Webb was losing his mind. Filed reports. Called congressmen. Contacted rescue organizations. Went on the news.

"I left my dog in Afghanistan," he said on CNN, his voice breaking. "I left my brother. And I'm going to get him back."

The military said it was impossible. Kabul had fallen. Taliban controlled the airport. No way to extract a dog.

Webb didn't care about impossible.

He contacted Pineapple Express, a veteran-run extraction operation. Gave them Chaos's last known location. Sent photos. Videos. Anything that could help.

For 47 days, Webb didn't sleep. Didn't eat properly. Just waited for news.

On October 16th, 2021, his phone rang.

"We found him," the voice said. "We found Chaos."

A rescue team had infiltrated Kabul. Used Webb's intel. Found Chaos still at the hangar. Still waiting. Forty-seven days later.

Chaos was emaciated. Dehydrated. Traumatized.

But alive.

The extraction took three days. Smuggling Chaos out of Taliban-controlled territory. Through checkpoints. Through danger.

But they got him out.

On October 19th, 2021, Chaos landed at Dulles International Airport. Webb was waiting on the tarmac.

When they opened the crate, Chaos didn't move. Stared at Webb like he was seeing a ghost.

"It's me, brother," Webb said, kneeling down. "I came back. I promised I'd come back."

Chaos stepped out slowly. Walked to Webb. Collapsed into his arms.

The reunion video went viral. Seventeen million views in three days.

But what people didn't see was what happened after.

For six months, Chaos wouldn't sleep unless Webb was in the room. Wouldn't eat unless Webb fed him. Wouldn't go outside unless Webb went first.

"He's terrified I'll leave him again," Webb said in an interview. "And I don't blame him. I left him once. In the worst place. At the worst time. He waited 47 days for me. And I'll spend the rest of my life making sure he knows I'm never leaving again."

Three years later, Chaos still sleeps with his head on Webb's chest. Still follows him everywhere.

Still making sure Webb doesn't disappear.

K-9 Chaos. Survived 47 days alone in Kabul. Extracted by heroes. Reunited with his handler. Home.
https://t.co/t4eYGPJPrk

#LostAndFound
#doglover #seniordogs #animalwelfare #militarydog #k9hero #dogrescue #Kabul #47Days #LeftBehind #BroughtHome

[Murphy @cogswell8]

@AdamSchefter @DanGrazianoESPN Someone needs to explain why taking the hit all at once doesn’t make sense. One epic year of suck vs. 2 or more of less epic, but still…suck. Why not take the hit and have a chance in year 2 post Tua.

Seems like mediocrity is (and has been) the goal.

[Seth Dillon @SethDillon]

If your position at The Washington Post was recently eliminated, please consider applying to write for The Babylon Bee. We are seeking applicants experienced in writing fictional content presented in the tone and style of a legitimate news organization.

[Murphy @cogswell8]

@DefiantLs That’s the mom from Bob’s burgers!

[Traces of Texas @TracesofTexas]

I never knew Bob Lang, who died in 2010, but after reading his obituary elsewhere just now I wish I had known him. Bob was a proud Texas Aggie who lived a very full life. Shortly before he died, Bob wrote the following reminiscence about Christmas time in Marlin, Texas, during the Great Depression. It's wonderful!

"It was the Christmas of 1933, the depression was in full swing, my Dad was an engineering officer on board a Texaco tanker which carried oil from Port Arthur to New York(was laid off when ship hit NY without pay for two months work, he was given $10, and he was lucky to get that, he rode the rails and walked back to Marlin, Texas. I did not recognize him when he came home. I was with my mom living back on the farm.

It had snowed and ice was every where. My grandpa hitched up the small mule to a sled and my uncle Ted, went with us to cut a tree for Christmas...he had one staked out. It was real pretty and we cut it, placed it on the sled and brought it home.

Popcorn was being made for tree ornaments and my aunts had to beat me to it because I was eating the pop corn. They made a stringer of pop corn and then cut strips of colored paper and made loops to add to the tree. Some old ornaments were also put on the tree and it was beautiful.

Well, my uncle always teased me and told me I was too young for Christmas and could not go into the living room....Although I was not allowed to speak or learn polish, I knew some cuss words and I used them, grandma was appalled and grandpa laughed.

That night we gathered for Christmas, we sat around the tree and sang Christmas songs in Polish, which I could not understand, then sang in American, which I could understand.

I was given a big red apple, which was the usual gift to children and it was the largest apple I have ever seen....it was a beauty. I put it on the kitchen table and just looked at it, touched it and held it occasionally, it was mine and I was going to keep it as long as I could.

We had to go to church for mid night mass, and I really did not care to go to church, rather stay at home and look at my apple. Well, I lost out and went to church. We got back, went into the house and that apple had a slice taken out. When I saw that, the guvna (sh t) hit the latern and I was looking for uncle Ted.....I knew he did it and I was right....that rascal had another apple and had switched on me.

I chased him around the house at 4 am, and it was cold, snowy and really bright. It was a beautiful night or morning. As I chased him we went around the wood pile and holy guvna .....there it was, a beautiful wagon, he had made for me, I was stunned. My first toy or tool or whatever. Now I could pull the wagon full of fire wood to the house instead of having to carry it in. He became my favorite uncle again.

I lived thru 81 Christmases. I guess that was the second best because the best was when I gave Patricia her engagement ring while she was visiting her Aunt in Schulenberg....I was wearing my senior boots and I thought I was the luckiest man in the world...I was in my boots engaged to the most beautiful girl from Teague, Texas...sixty years ago tonight.

It will be a lonely Christmas tonight, but I have so many beautiful memories......Merry Christmas Ags, I am on my way to Helotes to spend Christmas with my remaining family....I will say a prayer tonight for my beloved Aggieland and my extended family of Aggies everywhere.

Bob Lang"

Thanks very much to the kind Traces of Texas reader who shared this with me. I can tell I would have liked Bob Lang. The world needs more folks like him.

[Barstool Texas A&M @BarstoolTexasAM]

Came back from down 0-2 against Louisville.

Took down undefeated Nebraska in their own building.

Beat Pitt with the NCAA Player of the Year.

Defeated SEC champion Kentucky.

National Champions.

Without a doubt the greatest run in tournament history. This team is undeniable.

[Texas A&M Aggies 👍 @12thMan]

THEY LET THE AGS GET HOT

[Texas A&M Aggies 👍 @12thMan]

YOUR 2025 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: @AggieVolleyball

[Texas A&M Volleyball @AggieVolleyball]

THE TEXAS A&M AGGIES ARE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS🏆 👍

#GigEm // #AggieVB

[Murphy @cogswell8]

@ArmandoSalguero Question: why don’t the Dolphins take 100% of the hit in ‘26? That season is lost, so what is the difference between below mediocre and being epically bad? Bring in rookies, cast offs, the janitor to put a team together for 1 horrible year, and start ‘27 fresh w/out debt.

[Super 70s Sports @Super70sSports]

This NBA scandal makes Pete Rose look like he was going 68 in a 65 …

[Dallas Stars @DallasStars]

Good morning, Stars fans 🤩

[Dallas Stars @DallasStars]

The Josh and Razor cut is here 🎬🎙️

@JoshBogorad | @Razor5Hole | #TexasHockey

[Dallas Stars @DallasStars]

STARS WIN!!!!!!!! STARS WIN!!!!!!!! STARS WIN!!!!!!!! STARS WIN!!!!!!!!

@ATT | #TexasHockey

[Murphy @cogswell8]

@MattInfante @Capt_Cavephin When has Grier not loved the wrong player?

[Mark Passwaters @mbpHuddle]

From @grok: This (A&M 15, South Carolina 12) marked the first time in recorded baseball history—college or MLB—that a team hit two grand slams in the bottom of the ninth to win a game. @AggieBaseball

[Murphy @cogswell8]

@junior_miller Huge opportunity missed today when @junior_miller again flattened Ticket Mouse. Imagine if the mammoth experiments gave TM super strength and he threw the books back - flattening Craig.

[videos that boost your mental health @cheerfulclips]

6years old got welcomed back at school after beating leukemia

[M M @QuietlySilent]

@Super70sSports Could have done it by just doing the speed limit.