GREENVILLE, Pa.—Representatives from Warrior Canine Connection were on campus recently to film scenes for a documentary about Thiel College graduate and United States Marine Corps 1st Lieutenant Paul William Bush ’66.
A 10-minute version of the documentary was released online on Memorial Day. Warrior Canine Connection also plans to release a longer version of the film later.
Bush was killed in action when enemy artillery fire struck his bunker on March 22, 1968. Warrior Canine Connection names puppies in memoriam and in recognition of veterans. Accompanying Warrior Canine Connection and the film crew was a 6-month-old black Labrador. Paul II was named in honor of Bush―a Greenville, Pa. native who graduated from Thiel College with honors. He joined the Marines and was deployed to Vietnam less than a year after graduating. He was promoted under battlefield conditions, placing him in charge of an entire company.
“Being able to meet Paul’s widow, his cousins, his friends and get a sense of his community. It was inspiring. Being able to tell Paul’s story of service and ultimate sacrifice now 53 years later will be the most meaningful Memorial Day that I have experienced,” Warrior Canine Connection Executive Director Rick Yount said. “Warrior Canine Connection is honored to have named one of our puppies ‘Paul’ to ensure that Paul’s name will continue to be spoken and that his story will live on.”
The fitness center at Thiel is named for Bush. It was dedicated in 1999 and has a plaque recognizing his sacrifice and his name is painted on the wall in large letters.
Warrior Canine Connection utilizes a Mission Based Trauma Recovery model to empower returning combat veterans who have sustained physical and psychological wounds while in service to our country. Based on the concept of warriors helping warriors, Warrior Canine Connection’s therapeutic service dog training program is designed to mitigate symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges, while giving injured combat Veterans a sense of purpose, and help in reintegrating back into their families and communities.
About Thiel College
Thiel College is an independent college founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 24 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio. The College is also home to a new Master of Science in speech-language pathology and 2Master of Business Administration. Both master’s degree programs offer innovative and accelerated five-year paths which allow students to earn a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years. The speech-language pathology program also has an accelerated 15-month graduate-level program. The M.B.A. program also has a 12-month post-graduate program.A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College remains committed to combining tradition with innovation as it celebrates 150 years.