Sgt. Chris Duke Reunited With Rufus, Stray Dog That Saved His Life In Afghanistan

When a suicide bomber crept onto an American military base in Afghanistan in the middle of the night, intent on attacking a barracks where 50 soldiers slept, three stray dogs quickly came to the soldiers' rescue. The dogs, known by the names Rufus, Target and Sasha, barked to alert the sleeping soldiers of the danger, and bit the terrorist's leg to hold him back. Because of the dogs' deterrence, the bomber detonated the explosives before he could get inside the building.

The terrorist was killed -- along with Sasha, one of the dogs from the heroic trio of mutts. A handful of soldiers, along with Rufus and Target, were wounded by the blast, but miraculously, they were all alive -- thanks to the dogs' actions.

"There isn't a doubt in my mind [that the dogs] saved my life," said [Sgt. Chris] Duke, who was wounded by shrapnel -- and is now adopting Rufus.

The New York Post reports Sgt. Chris Duke is reuniting with Rufus at his home in Georgia, where the dog will come to live with the soldier and his family. Target, the other heroic animal that sprung to help the soldiers, is also being adopted -- by the Phoenix army medic who saved the dog's life from the injuries caused by the explosion.

The reunions are made possible by Robert's Cause and the Puppy Rescue Mission, two nonprofit organizations that have gotten involved to help Rufus and Target, and other animals caught up in the conflict in war-torn Afghanistan.

Comments

[Niasia]

11:20 PM on 07/31/2010

Dogs are the best'

[Red45]

02:38 AM on 07/31/2010

It's so great that some of those wonderful dogs over there are being adopted by soldiers who made friends with them or whose lives were saved by them, as in this case. It'll help both the dog and the soldier heal from their nightmare.

[ylobrkrd]

02:12 AM on 07/31/2010

I think the dogs could be a form of therapy to relieve some of the stress that these soldiers are enduring. I know that when my dogs lay next to me if I'm sick, tired or stressed I feel better almost immediately. I have to believe the same would work for them.

[stacy1467]

01:04 AM on 07/31/2010

Sweet ;-)

[John Toth]

11:26 PM on 07/30/2010

Maybe we should put more stray dogs around our soldiers. There are plenty of them in Iraq, where they are shooting them. Being a dog lover and the owner of three big dogs and one really small one, I can tell you there is no better defense against "strangers" than dogs. And their service and loyalty are unconditional.

[Kiri sute gomen]

12:44 PM on 07/31/2010

Very good idea.

[thehoopoe]

07:21 PM on 07/30/2010

i can't believe there are people who don't like animals

[jojobinx]

06:40 PM on 07/29/2010

Who cares about the spelling, the idea is a great one. The dogs serve us and ask for nothing, so why not take care of them and adopt them out.

[Paula Ann]

11:40 PM on 07/28/2010

"simple spelling GOD..same word backward DOG"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H17edn_RZoY&playnext=1&videos=UnZAkHqZOD4

[J A]

04:37 PM on 07/28/2010

It is nice to see positive things online. Another great yet sad story (with a somewhat happy ending for saving the soldiers lives) that shows the connection and bond that animals have with us. I, too, am sorry for the loss of the dog but am grateful that so many soldiers were saved by it.

[OKSunny]

02:41 PM on 07/28/2010

LOVE stories like these...makes me sad that the dogs were needed for this purpose in the first place, but at least they are being rescued

[leajazz]

12:34 AM on 07/29/2010

Yep.

[Passerineblue]

07:00 AM on 07/28/2010

RIP Sasha. Moslems hate dogs (one of the reasons the dog stuff at Abu Ghraib was so bad). Some of the poor strays you see are heart breaking.

It sounds to me like the military should start some sort of dog adoption program, so the dogs could patrol compounds. When their "service" is up, they could be shipped home with their buddies. Only cost, dog food and vet care.

[glockman]

11:26 AM on 07/28/2010

What, or who, are "moslems?"

[PG812]

05:45 PM on 07/30/2010

You know damn well that it's a spelling from years ago.

[FosterMom]

03:11 PM on 07/30/2010

"Moslems hate dogs"
You might want to learn to spell the name of a religious group before you start stereotyping them. Many Muslims DO have pets, including dogs, and treat them well. The "hate" of dogs has far more to do with cultural history than religion - when Europe was dealing with the Black Plague, Islamic territories weren't affected nearly as much because they kept cats that killed the infected rats carrying the disease. Since medicine was beyond crude back then, the only difference noted was that Europeans had dogs and they did not. So they were considered "unclean" BUT religious texts explicitly state that ALL creatures of God should be treated with kindness - dogs included.

I bet you'd never guess who gave me the most help when my dog was ill with cancer and I couldn't afford surgery — a Muslim.

I agree with you on the dog adoption idea, but your generalizations about an entire group of people are simply idiotic.

[Kiri sute gomen]

12:47 PM on 07/31/2010

I have to fan for the avatar.

[Kiri sute gomen]

01:05 PM on 07/31/2010

I have read some of your other posts. I have run into the ignorance of this wonderful breed many times as well. Wish I could fan you more than once. Keep up the fight!

I will leave you with an anecdote. My Grandmother came over to visit, as did my mother with her chihuahua. Grandmother was absolutely terrified of Pits. When she arrived, my dog welcomed her, my mother's bit her. By the end of the visit, my Grandmother had fallen in love with my dog.

[rainkitty]

01:36 AM on 07/28/2010

I love animals, but it's amazing and truly spiritual when they love us.

[leajazz]

12:31 AM on 07/29/2010

fave

[CarolinaYankee]

01:29 PM on 07/30/2010

faved, isn't it great when you think you are doing them a favor and it turns out to be the reverse. Unconditional love, nothing like it.

[T Pol]

11:16 PM on 07/27/2010

A blessing on the head of each soldier and each dog.

Sasha, all dogs go to heaven, but you shall have a special place.

May G-d protect them and bring them home.

[tallen]

10:47 PM on 07/27/2010

Dogs are great. :)

[TggerJen]

03:11 AM on 07/28/2010

Faved!! Dogs Rock!

[glockman]

11:27 AM on 07/28/2010

Dogs are better than great. Dogs are better than many people I know.

[leajazz]

12:32 AM on 07/29/2010

Yes!

[DrMittens]

12:58 AM on 07/29/2010

Amen to that.

[Halsey]

03:10 PM on 07/27/2010

I love this story, not the war and horror that created it, but the heroics of these precious animals and the love the the soldiers that took these dogs home to a life of love and food and luxery (by Afgan dog standards to be sure). It is heartbreaking that in Iraq, it is found necessary to kill the many wild and yes, dangerous packs of dogs who simply are trying to survive. I sadly, understand that need; and that is what makes Sasha (rip sweet dog) Rufus and Target as much heros as the very soldiers they saved. THIS should be headling, not mel gibson or any kardashian escapade!

[mollymac]

10:22 PM on 07/29/2010

Or Palin. So sick of reading about her.

[AnimalLover6]

01:35 AM on 08/01/2010

It's "necessary" only because the culture treats them, in general, like garbage.