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CNN Live At Daybreak

Seattle Woman Donates Puppy to Chapman Family

Aired January 10, 2002 - 06:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Sergeant Nathan Chapman became the first U.S. soldier to die from hostile fire in Afghanistan. Now a unique phone call from his grieving widow brings about a special delivery to help ease the pain for his family.

Mike McCabe (ph) of CNN affiliate KIMA has our story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MIKE MCCABE, KIMA-TV REPORTER (voice-over): This story starts with a phone call, a unique phone call. A distraught widow of an American soldier killed in Afghanistan picked up the phone in search of a schnauzer puppy to help ease the grief of her husband, Sergeant 1st Class Nathan Ross Chapman. He, of course, was the first U.S. soldier to be killed by enemy fire in the war against terrorism. This is where Martha Mengarelli comes in, a local resident who breeds and sells schnauzer puppies.

MARTHA MENGARELLI: And I had an ad out in the Seattle newspaper. And Mrs. Chapman called interested in the puppy. So once I realized who she was and the sadness that she was portraying over the phone, it was just meant to be that I make sure she get the puppy.

MCCABE: From there a special meeting was arranged in Cle Elum where Martha drove to meet two of the sergeants from Chapman's unit who will then deliver the puppy to the Chapman family.

BILL PENCE, SERGEANT 1ST CLASS: Well, on behalf of the Chapman family and Renae, we'd like to thank you for everything that you're doing for her and the kids. And they really appreciate it.

MCCABE: When Martha made the connection between the interested party, she decided to donate the puppy and even took it a step further and called on a number of area businesses to help aid in the effort.

MENGARELLI: I called around and got four different businesses to donate some products like Petco and Blial's (ph) Feed Supply in Zillah and Yakima Neighborhood Health and the American Legion Post 36. And I've got a nice carrying case for them, 80 pounds of food and things that they won't have to go out and shop for quite a while for the puppy.

MCCABE: Martha says she is proud to help out the Chapman family and that the area businesses were more than willing to donate their items, especially to a family that has suffered such a great loss.

MENGARELLI: I'm just overwhelmed with happiness that I can possibly make a family very happy. And my dad is a veteran and he's overwhelmed by it, and my mother is very happy, and my nieces and nephews will be very proud that one of our puppies is going to a nice home.

MCCABE: And yes, Martha, we are very proud, and we thank you.

In Cle Elum, I'm Mike McCabe reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COSTELLO: That's a cute little schnauzer, isn't it?

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