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Photo endears puppy to family of slain spc.

WASHINGTON — The night before Spc. Justin Rollins died in a roadside bomb blast in Samarra, he and his fellow 82nd Airborne Division soldiers had found a litter of newborn puppies outside of an Iraqi police station.

Pictures were taken of Rollins nuzzling with one of the puppies.

Rollins’ fiancée, Brittney Murray, and his family want to preserve that final memory by bringing the puppy, named “Hero,” to New Hampshire.

The soldiers were not allowed to keep the animals in their barracks.

The family learned Tuesday that U.S. Central Command has approved the transfer of the puppy to the U.S. Members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation worked with the Rollins to obtain the necessary approval.

“We are cautiously optimistic,” said Rep. Paul Hodes, D-N.H. “Hero still has a long way to go. Given the sacrifice that the Rollinses made for our country, the least we can do for them is cut some red tape and provide them with this bit of comfort.”

Rollins, 22, was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.

He was among six soldiers who died March 5 when an improvised explosive device detonated near their unit during combat operations. Also killed were Staff Sgt. Justin M. Estes, Staff Sgt. Robert M. Stanley, Sgt. Andrew C. Perkins, Spc. Ryan M. Bell and Pfc. Cory C. Kosters.