No one was closer to Army Spc. Alec Alcoser than his partner when they served in Afghanistan. Both of them were badly injured in a suicide bombing on Aug. 5.
They were turning the corner of a narrow street in Bagram Airfield when they saw a young Afghan coming toward them.
Before Alcoser knew it would up with several broken bones and shrapnel inside 30 percent of his body. He also suffered a traumatic brain injury, according to KDVR.com.
His partner was injured too and lost his leg. Thankfully, Alcosser’s partner is an 8-year-old German Shepherd name Alex who still has three other legs to keep him upright.
Prior to the attack, Alcoser and Alex were pretty much inseparable.
They spent all of their time together and even slept in the same bed when they were conducting missions together.
“On a day with a mission, we’d wake up, I would give him a doggie treat and I would have some ice cream before we went out, and when we got back, we usually slept,” Alcoser said. “That was a normal day for me and Alex out there. It was kind of their thing to eat a sweet because you never know if that’s going to be your last when you go out.”
So, it was difficult for the two to be separated while they were recovering after the suicide bombing.
“They’re estimating about four to six months, and so I’m already a month and almost half in, and I’m already walking, so I think I’m going to beat that time,” he said. “Either way, the doctors say I have a pretty good chance of making a full recovery, and that’s all that matters. I’ve got to get back to my dog. That’s the important part.”
Thankfully, Alcoser didn’t have to wait until he’s better again to see his faithful friend.
The two met in an emotional reunion at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System’s Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, according to FOX News Insider.
It was the first time they had met since they were both awarded Purple Hearts for Heroism in Washington D.C.
Until the two are permanently reunited, Alcoser is keeping a positive outlook on life.
“I don’t have any frustrations, I just take it day by day, that’s all I can do,” he said. “There’s no point in being mad or sad or anything like that.”
“I’ve got to live through the people who died for me, so they give me a lot of strength. And Alex ain’t complaining, so I don’t think I should, either. His injuries are a little worse than mine. A lot of people call him a dog, but I think he’s a little more than that. He’s a soldier.”
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