AMC’s Book Club — Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
AMC’s Book Club — Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
Please join us on Wednesday, December 8th at 6PM ET on Zoom as AMC’s Animal Lovers Book Club features a conversation with Craig Grossi about his book Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other. It’s a heartwarming story of a stray dog and a U.S. Marine who met under the unlikeliest of circumstances in Afghanistan — and changed each other’s lives forever.
This is a free, online-only event hosted via Zoom (https://zoom.us/). A link to the event with instructions will be emailed to all registered participants the day of the event. Please email UsdanInstitute@amcny.org with any questions.
About the Book
Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other
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 had 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.
About the Author
Craig Grossi is an eight-year Marine Corps veteran, and a recipient of the Purple Heart. After returning from Afghanistan, he worked for the Defense Intelligence Agency and attended Georgetown University. When not traveling with Fred, he works intensively with veteran organizations, including the USA Warriors Ice Hockey Program and the Tragedy Assistance Programs for Survivors (TAPS). He is the author of two books: Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How They Rescued Each Other and Second Chances: A Marine, His Dog, and Finding Redemption
You can find Craig and Fred online at www.fredtheafghan.com.
