In the News: Fort Hood Soldier and Dog Recovering after IED Explosion

Specialist Andrew Brown and Rocky Recovering

  There's nothing like the special bond between a dog and a human, and this touching story is about a bond between them who were both injured in the military and are recovering together.


In the News: Fort Hood Soldier and Dog Recovering after IED Explosion

Source: KCEN TV, Waco, Texas
(http://www.kcentv.com/story/30726912/fort-hood-soldier-and-dog-recovering-after-ied-explosion?autoStart=true) 
    FORT HOOD -- If a picture is worth a thousand words, this one speaks volumes. The touching photo is a snapshot of Fort Hood Military Working Dog Rocky lying on a hospital bed after being hit by an improved explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan. But what sent the picture into a viral frenzy was the Purple Heart that was placed on his collar. It belonged to his handler, Specialist Andrew Brown, who was also injured in the blast.
    The show of respect from one injured soldier to another propelled the picture and their story across the internet and into the hearts of those who shared it. It didn't take long before the photo had more than 100,000 likes and was shared nearly 150,000 times. "I think they're overwhelmed with the support," said Col. Ross Guieb, Commander of the 89th Military Police Brigade.
Brown and Rocky are with Fort Hood's 720th Military Police Battalion, and had just deployed as a team to Afghanistan in October. They were searching a building for explosives when they were hit by the IED blast. They were both taken the hospital for non-life threatening injuries. It was there that the touching photos were snapped and posted to Facebook.

Rocky recovering

   "The bond between a Military Working Dog and their handler is probably one of the strongest bonds," said Col. Guieb. "That handler does everything for that Military Working Dog. Sometimes they don't see eye to eye because they each have their days, but at the end of the day I think that bond is very strong."
    Brown arrived at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington DC last Friday to continue his recovery. Rocky is still in Germany with a broken leg and other wounds. He is expected to return to the U.S. in the coming weeks to be reunited with his battle buddy. It's unclear if Rocky will do his recovery at Fort Hood or somewhere else.
   "So far so goo in terms of rehabilitation," said Guieb. "We are excited to get them back, and we are excited for all the support."
   As for the picture, Guieb says it should serve as a reminder that sacrifices continue to be made daily by our troops.
  "There are still soldiers deployed, and they are in harms way," he said. "And this exposes for everyone to understand the Military Working Dogs are part of what we do as Military Police."
Video: http://www.kcentv.com/story/30726912/fort-hood-soldier-and-dog-recovering-after-ied-explosion?autoStart=true&autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=12073887

kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen