In this special Armed Forces Week episode of Pelham Place, Jay Pelham revisits a 2020 conversation with retired Marine and author Craig Grossi to talk about the unforgettable story of how a stray dog, eventually named Fred, wandered onto a battlefield in Afghanistan—and into Craig’s life.

In Part One, Craig shares his journey from a struggling high school student to a Marine working in human intelligence, and how that career path ultimately led him to a remote village in Helmand Province. It was there, in the middle of a war zone, that Craig met Fred—a dusty, bug-covered dog whose quiet resilience and unexpected gentleness would spark a bond that changed everything.

This episode dives deep into Craig’s early years in the military, his experience as a human intelligence officer, and how service shaped the way he saw the world. It’s a story about finding connection in chaos, and the beginning of a mission that would eventually become Craig’s life work.

Learn more about Craig and Fred at www.fredtheafghan.com

Follow Craig and Nora on Instagram @fredtheafghan

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