Lance Corporal Andrew Harmon has been home from his tour of duty in Afghanistan for a couple of years now. Â It’s also been a couple of years since he saw his service mate Rebel, a military dog he spent virtually every moment with while there. Â Harmon and Rebel have been reunited, and Harmon says his prayers have been answered.
“I just prayed a lot for the dog. I was like, ‘God, I hope one day I get to see him again’,” said Harmon.
When Harmon joined the Marines, he hadn’t imagined himself as a dog handler. Â However, he found out that by getting into a dog handler’s position, he would get to be on active duty. Â According to Harmon, when he went to be paired with his new charge, it was Rebel that chose him.
Harmon and Rebel spent every moment together while overseas. Â For Harmon, it was his first tour of duty and it was Rebel’s second. Â Truly, they are what some would call a bonded pair.
“I’ve had numerous dogs before, but the bond wasn’t like this. You know, I can’t describe it,” said Harmon.
After taking a massive concussive blast from an explosion, Rebel was left badly injured. Â He suffered a stroke and had to be retired and sent back to the United States.
While home, a tumor had been found on one of Rebel’s knees and needed to be removed. Â The woman Rebel was staying with just could not afford to pay for the surgery. Â That’s when she called Harmon and got the pair back together.
“It’s just indescribable,” Harmon said. “It was almost like when I had my daughter or when I got married… something like that. That’s the best way I can describe it.”
Rebel and Harmon are together now. Â Rebel is healing up nicely, and the two help each other out coping with post combat stress. Â Harmon is now looking for ways that he and Rebel can do some good locally.