Heartwarming Moment Solider Reunites with Dog She Rescued While Deployed in Iraq
Life teaches us a lot of important lessons. Chief among them is that the going sometimes gets rough, so we should never try to go at it alone.
Combat soldiers and military personnel, for example, support one another through some of the toughest situations imaginable. And civilians often learn to lean on faithful friends — or loyal animal companions.
In the case of U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. Tracy McKithern, both of these crucial support systems came into play. While this Tampa-based combat photographer was stationed in Iran’s Kurdistan Province, she met a wayward puppy wandering the base.
According to a Department of Defense news release, the young pooch was apparently foraging for food with her mother. Both dogs seemed underfed — and while locals had mistreated them, the canines learned they would be safe and nurtured near the soldiers.
As time went on, McKithern forged a particularly strong connection with the puppy. “She ran up to our convoy every day,” said McKithern. “She was so tiny she would fall and trip all over herself to get to us.”
The dogs slowly began to thrive after weeks of dedicated care. McKithern eventually named the puppy Erby, after the nearby city of Erbil, which is a city in northern Iraq.
When it came time for McKithern to return stateside, she received generous help from a Texas-based nonprofit named Puppy Rescue Mission to transport Erby to the U.S.
However, McKithern later learned she was being redeployed on the same day Erby was scheduled to arrive at John F. Kennedy Airport.
McKithern’s husband, Sgt. Wes McKithern, was able to meet Erby in New York and drive the rescued dog back to Tampa. Then an eager vigil began for the homecoming of this lucky pup’s hero and benefactor.
Wes McKithern also happens to be a combat photographer — so when his wife finally landed at Tampa International Airport, he had both Erby and his trusty camera in tow. Video footage shows Tracy McKithern rushing right over to her jubilant, cream-colored canine.
As the grateful hugging and tail-wagging commenced, however, an ecstatic Tracy McKithern realized she hadn’t yet greeted her own husband. Her spouse absolutely understood, of course, and eventually leaned in for a laughing embrace.
The short video snippet was posted on Tampa International Airport’s Facebook page. Since then, viewers all over the world have been uplifted by this heartwarming reunion.
Tracy McKithern explained to NBC 6 South Florida that Erby’s mother currently remains in Iraq, under the watchful care of coalition soldiers at the base. The hope is that this elder dog will also be adopted and transported to safety in the U.S.
For now, however, Erby and her new mom make a proud pair indeed. “I can’t believe it,” an elated Tracy McKithern said of the happy outcome, “it feels like a miracle is happening.”
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