When one U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. completed a two-year deployment in South Korea in 2014, he was thrilled to be coming home to his family and friends.
However, leaving South Korea was bittersweet for Adam Wylie, a 12-year veteran of the armed forces, since it meant leaving behind Emra, his Belgian Malinois K-9 partner. “She meant the world to me,” said Wylie. The two have been separated for the past two years, but when the 9-year-old was being retired because she was getting older and developing arthritis, a nonprofit group, American Humane, paid for Emra to be flown home and be reunited with her former handler.
“Emra and I had such a strong bond in South Korea, but I will admit, my biggest fear was that she would not recognize me,” Wylie said. “But then it happened! She looked right at me, nuzzled into my neck, and licked my face. She had not forgotten the long shifts together posted out in the middle of nowhere or the endless hours training together.”
“I was overcome by so many emotions, several of which I cannot even put into words,” Wylie said about the moment he saw Emra for the first time in years. “Our reunification was more than just two battle buddies catching up on ‘old times,’ a part of my family was brought back to me. We are inseparable now, just like we were for our two years serving together.”
“Bringing Emra home to retire on U.S. soil was the very least all of us as Americans could do to express our gratitude for her extraordinary service and sacrifices on behalf of our nation,” American Humane said.
Can you believe how long it took for these two to be reunited? Let us know what you think in the comments below and please SHARE this with friends on Facebook.
[Featured image: American Humane and Crown Media Family Networks]
Sergeant Drops To His Knees When He’s Reunited With K-9 Partner is an article from: LifeDaily