Shelley Mamott, Staff Writer

Chloe gives Corporal Ward Van Alstine kisses

When Corporal Ward Van Alstine of the United States Marine Corps returned home to Santa Barbara for Thanksgiving dinner, there was more than just a turkey dinner waiting for him. As part of a Thanksgiving surprise planned by family and friends, Chloe, the stray dog he saved in Afghanistan, was sitting on the front porch waiting for him.

He greeted Van Alstine’s with face licks and snuggled into his arms.

When asked about the special homecoming with his companion, the Marine offered that “It doesn’t matter… how much you’ve screwed up in your life, you know, your dog is always your best friend.”

In Afghanistan, Chloe was very shy but the marines lured her into their camp with bits of a nutrition bar.

“So I baited her. She just kind of came in like a trail into our tent. That’s what she did,” Van Alstine said. “She decided she was queen of that realm and took over.”

In December, Van Alstine will be out of the service and will be able to be with Chloe full time.

The Marine’s sister worked with the animal rescue group Nowzad to have Chloe flown from Afghanistan to the U.S.

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Shelley Mamott, Staff Writer

With slobbery licks and kisses, 14 stray dogs from war-torn Afghanistan were reunited Wednesday with the US service members who cared for them.

Charlie, Liberty and Freedom reunited with soldiers

The dogs were flown to the US by British charity Nowzad Dogs, started by former British Royal Marine Pen Farthing, who served in Afghanistan. The charity reunites dogs and cats from Afghanistan with the soldiers they befriended. American Airlines flew the dogs from the Middle East to JFK Airport, New York, where the emotional reunions took place.

The Afghan dogs were grateful to be out of their crates and back in the arms of their best friends. They joyfully licked, sniffed and yelped as the military members embraced them amid balloons and flag decorations.

Sheila Schaffer reunited with Charlie, left, and right, when Charlie was a puppy in Afghanistan in March

US soldiers regularly befriend loyal Afghan dogs, who are invaluable companions on the front line and provide relief and companionship after days of fatiguing fire fights.

Now, the stray dogs who helped soldiers through their toughest times are being thanked – with new loving homes. The soldiers traveled from their home towns across America to greet the dogs off the plane before taking them home.

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Gracie is reunited with her owner after he returned home from Afghanistan