When Sgt. Chris Duke arrived at a remote outpost in Afghanistan, it didn’t seem like much time at all before he took up with a stray dog he promptly named Rufus. There is something about a dog that is comforting, especially to a Southern boy in a hostile environment, and when Chris would stand watch ole Rufus would hunker down beside him through the night.

A couple of other dogs, duly named Sasha and Target, were also welcomed by the Georgia National Guard unit and, as the days began to count, the furry friends became constant companions. Then came the night of February 10. It was quiet; Chris was on the Internet and his roommates were playing cards when suddenly the dogs started yapping.

Some men in the barracks gruffly yelled for them to “Hush” and then Sgt. Duke went to the door to quell the frantic barking. When he got there, Sasha and Target were furiously barking at an eerie intruder who had somehow gotten inside the compound and Rufus had already attacked with fury, firmly chomping down on the Taliban’s leg.

That’s when the suicide bomber panicked and prematurely ignited the 25 pounds of hidden C-4 explosive that was meant for the 50 soldiers inside the barracks. Five soldiers, including Sgt. Duke, were injured but, because of the dogs, no one was killed.

Sasha was severely injured and had to be put down but some medics worked desperately on the other two “heroes” after the hurt soldiers had been air-lifted for treatment at a nearby, much larger medical facility. Some days later, when Sgt. Duke returned to his unit, Rufus and Target were already wagging their tales and a far-greater bond had developed between the men and the dogs.

“The U.S. Army spends unlimited amounts of money to make sure we have the best equipment, the best weapons, the best armored vehicles,” Chris said.  “And the one thing that saves your life is a free-of-charge mutt that you really don’t do much but pay him attention and give him a piece of jerky every now and then. It’s kind of strange. It was surreal.”

Let me tell you what else is surreal. Last week, Chris Duke and his now-pregnant wife Lauren drove to the Atlanta airport and welcomed two Afghanis – Rufus and Target – to the United States where they will spend the rest of their days.

“I owe them so much, not just for my life, but since returning, we now have a child on the way, which wouldn’t be possible without that happening,” Duke said. “He’s not only saved my life, but helped create life for somebody else.”

The two animals were ecstatic at the reunion, which was made possible by a veterans’ assistance group called “Hope For The Warriors” and hundreds of others who donated the necessary funding via Facebook. Chris wore his fatigues so Rufus and Target would recognize him but it was hardly necessary – there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.

“In my belief, after looking around and doing research, the dogs were trying to keep harm from coming to us,” the soldier said.

Rufus will live in Augusta while Target will go to Texas with another ever-grateful soldier who survived the attack. A huge media throng was delighted as they watched Rufus cavorted with Chris after the 25-hour journey from Afghanistan. “I firmly believe I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for Rufus,” Duke said.

The veteran’s group, “Hope for the Warriors,” sprang into action when they heard the sergeant had a “wish” he could adopt his hero. Through a tantalizing myriad, they contacted soldiers who had replaced the Georgia unit and … well, it happened.

“I want to take them everywhere and show them to everybody,” Chris told an Atlanta reporter, “but I’ll probably just take them home and let them relax from all of this attention they’re getting.”

Best of all, the two “heroes” will now be safe on American soil, which is only befitting.