Wounded Soldier And His Military Dog: Heartfelt Reunion At a Rehabilitation Clinic

by Top Retriever · Published 30 September · Updated 30 September

Wounded soldier and dog reunite again!(Video)

Six weeks ago into his deployment to Afghanistan, Spc. Alec Alcoser grabbed his dog’s leash and left the barracks. It was a mission day, and Alcoser and his partner, a German Shepherd named Alex, were reporting to duty. They were together pretty much everywhere Alcoser went, except the dining hall. On his days off, they slept in the same bed together, rising late and enjoying the leisure time. They’d been working together for months and already had a close bond. On that day six weeks ago, their friendship was put to the ultimate test.

Rounding a street corner, Alcoser and Alex saw a local Afghan walking toward them. The next thing they knew, there was nothing but pain and confusion. Alcoser and Alex were hit by the suicide bomber’s blast at close range. Seriously injured, Alcoser could do nothing but wait for it to end. Through it all, his dog never left his side. “I would yell at him and his ears would twitch, but he wouldn’t look at me,” said Alcoser. “I think he was in a state of shock. He didn’t growl, he didn’t bark, he didn’t cry. He stayed right there.” Alcoser had multiple broken bones, including his arms and legs, and was hit by shrapnel on 30 percent of his body. Doctors also reported he suffered from a mild brain injury. Recovering was his new priority, but there was someone else he couldn’t stop thinking about. During the explosion, Alex was injured alongside his partner and fellow soldier.

His dog never left his side!

The dog needed to have his left rear leg amputated and was retired from service. While Alcoser was recovering at a veteran’s rehabilitation center, Alex was at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland learning how to walk with three legs. Partway through their recovery, Alex was finally reunited with Alcoser in the nation’s capital. Both Alcoser and Alex received Purple Hearts for their heroism in the line of duty. They relished the time they had together, but that time soon came to an end. Their separation, however, was only temporary. The soldier and his dog recently had another heartfelt reunion at a rehabilitation center in Texas. Watch the video, Alcoser wiped tears from his eyes as Alex got in close to greet his best friend. Despite everything that happened oversees, the two Purple Heart recipients remained steadfast friends!

Alcoser still has months of rehabilitation in front of him, but doctors are confident he’ll make a full recovery. He’s already walking, and he’s looking forward to getting back to serving his country. In the meantime, Alcoser is focusing on getting better for his wife and infant son. There’s also something else motivating him—he wants to make Alex an official part of his family.

“I don’t have any frustrations, I just take it day by day, that’s all I can do. There’s no point in being mad or sad or anything like that. I’ve got to live through the people who died for me, so they give me a lot of strength,” he said.

“And Alex ain’t complaining, so I don’t think I should, either. His injuries are a little worse than mine,” Alcoser said. “A lot of people call him a dog, but I think he’s a little more than that. He’s a soldier.”