BRIAN WILLIAMS, anchor:
Finally tonight here, a touching reunion between some Americans who fought for their country in
Afghanistan
and some of the friends they made over there who remained by their side through achievement and tragedy and loved them unconditionally. They have been reunited with them here thanks to a unique airlift and
NBC
's
Kevin Tibbles
has the story.
KEVIN TIBBLES reporting:
A precious military airlift arrives at
New York's Kennedy Airport
. And
soldiers
spring not into battle, but into cuddle. For this four-legged, face-licking invasion all the way from
Afghanistan
has found a new home in
America
.
Gus
was orphaned as a pup when his mother was shot.
Mr. ZACHARY HENNING (US Navy):
He warmed my heart when I was out there and helped me to survive mentally. So I need to repay him and give him a home.
TIBBLES:
Finding these tail-wagging morale boosters loving new homes is the idea of a
British soldier
who so far has helped some 250 dogs with adoption in the US,
UK
,
Canada
,
Holland
and
Australia
.
Corporal PEN FARTHING (Nowzad Dogs Founder):
Chaos of
Afghanistan
and serving there, just having the dog, for me, was a way of actually just spending five minutes in normality.
TIBBLES:
Ensuring the dogs are spayed or neutered and have their shots is the charity
American Dog Rescue
.
Mr. ARTHUR E. BENJAMIN (American Dog Rescue Founder):
There wasn't one of the
soldiers
, male or female, who didn't cry when they saw their dog.
TIBBLES:
Charlie
made
Afghanistan
survivable for
Specialist Sheila Schaffer
.
Ms. SHEILA SCHAFFER:
Hi
, baby.
TIBBLES:
Schaffer
took this video when his litter was discovered hidden under a building on base. Now
Charlie
, the former Afghan stray, is
Charlie
from
Iowa
, who gets to bark at the local cattle without fear, and who gets his belly rubbed regularly.
Charlie
's contribution to morale in
Afghanistan
will never be forgotten.
Ms. SCHAFFER:
A lot of times heroic is that they're saving our souls, they're saving us inside because there is a lot of
soldiers
that get depressed being away from home and being away from their own pets and their own families.
TIBBLES:
Repaying those who helped save lives in a war zone with the simplest of things, unconditional love. Kevin Tibbles, NBC News, Chicago.
“ ”