Rescued Afghanistan puppy joins wounded soldier

Smoke the puppy became an instant sensation when this photo of him in the backpack of Donny Eslinger appeared on the cover of Army Life magazine.

Eslinger had rescued the friendly puppy last August and stashed him in his backpack for a hike back to a checkpoint in Afghanistan where he was stationed.

According to Eslinger’s father, a sheriff in Florida, “[Smoke] didn’t whimper or whine. He was going into MRE (Meals Ready to Eat) heaven."

A little more than a month later Eslinger was hit by mortar fire suffering life threatening wounds, a head and chest injury, a broken leg and ribs, and a lost spleen. He underwent surgery and was kept in a medically induced coma before being transferred to Walter Reed army hospital in Maryland.There he received a Purple Heart from President Obama.

After spending several weeks at a veterans’ hospital in Florida, Donny Eslinger was returned last week to Walter Reed for more surgery. His father left Florida to join his son at Walter Reed, taking with him a companion, Smoke.

The 7-month-old puppy arrived at Orlando International Airport last Wednesday, five months to the day after Eslinger's fellow soldiers in Afghanistan set in motion plans to send the dog to him.

Smoke will be boarded with a nearby veterinarian so that he can make frequent visits to Eslinger who is expected to make a full recovery. Source

Comments

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What a wonderful story!

Posted by: Jen | January 25, 2012 at 11:19 AM

WOW!! Way cool, and cute puppy too! Sorry to hear Donny got hit and is going through these troubles, but glad he got Smoke back!

Don
http://exposeyourblog.com

Posted by: Don | January 25, 2012 at 11:55 AM

WHAT A WONDERFUL STORY!!! Thank you so much for posting this!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Posted by: Linda | January 25, 2012 at 02:24 PM

Goddess bless them one and all.

Posted by: jackie | January 25, 2012 at 03:17 PM

Smoke is one adorable puppy. Great story.

Posted by: Pup Fan | January 25, 2012 at 06:35 PM

My two favorite things....Soldiers in uniforms AND puppies :D

Posted by: Karen Friesecke | January 25, 2012 at 08:39 PM

That's awesome, for both of them. I'm glad the soldier will make a full recovery and that his sweet pup will be there with him.

Posted by: Jodi | January 26, 2012 at 07:39 AM

What a heartwarming story...I sure the puppy will be very happy when he sees Eslinger...:-)

Posted by: Alexander Brenner | January 27, 2012 at 11:03 AM

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