JBLM unit in Afghanistan adopts turtle mascot

Published 2:14 pm Friday, April 6, 2012

TACOMA — A unit from a Joint Base Lewis-McChord Stryker Brigade on a year-long deployment in Afghanistan has adopted a turtle as a mascot.

The turtle was found in the desert this week by Sgt. Dison Ittue, who carried it back to Forward Operating Base Wolverine in Zabul Province.

A Tacoma News Tribune reporter embedded with troops reports the soldiers call it “Terry the terrorist turtle.”

Soldiers pluck desert plants to pad Terry’s living quarters in a plastic trunk. They feed Terry fruits and vegetables from the dining facility.