Dogs have always been an integral part of the U.S. military. Their speed, strength, agility and tracking capabilities make them a very important asset in a wide range of military and police operations, both at home and overseas. It’s heartbreaking when our soldiers get injured in battle, and even more so when an innocent dog shares the fate of their handler.

A photo of Rocky, a military dog injured in an attack, and his Purple Heart have just gone viral for all the right reasons.  His handler, specialist Andrew Brown, was kind enough to share some details about their partnership and friendship, which lasts for more than two years. They were called to Afghanistan in October and sustained injuries two months later when they were tasked with searching a compound.

They were quickly flown together to Kandahar, Afghanistan after the explosion and the soldier and his dog were honored with Purple Hearts, military decorations awarded in the name of the President to those wounded or killed while serving their country.

Brown praises his canine companion and credits him for all the hard work. He explains that Rocky is truly an American soldier and that his “rank” is above Brown’s. He modestly claims that the dog is the brains of the whole operation and that Brown’s only job is that of a “translator.”

The 89th Military Police Brigade posted a photo of Brown and Rocky, describing the incident on their Facebook page. They said that both of them are doing just fine and that they’re very thankful for everyone’s support.

Brown is currently recovering in D.C. and is holding on tightly to both their Purple Hearts while Rocky is facing more surgeries in Germany. Brown’s injuries are not life-threatening, but he’s yet to be checked for traumatic brain injury as part of a standard procedure. Rocky has a few surgeries ahead of him but is expected to make a full recovery. When asked about Rocky, Brown was fairly optimistic and said that he thinks the dog will be just fine.

Our prayers are with Brown and Rocky. We hope that they will walk away from this with nothing but a smile and their well-deserved Purple Hearts. They’re fighters to the core and we’re sure they’re in for a hero’s welcome when they finally return home!