Merry Christmas, everyone.

By Kirk Spitzer, USA TODAY BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan

BTTT

Kirk Spitzer, USA TODAY John, a private first class from Long Island, N.Y.,
holds Petey at Bagram Air Base.

I posted a picture of the puppy with a soldier but it disappeared.

Why did your picture stay and mine go?

Magic

But "I imagine that when it's time to go home, one or two rucksacks will have a little something extra in them," Kissel says.

HA! From the looks of that puppy, those are going to be some BIG dogs, trust me, I know big dogs.

LOL

Merry Christmas.

But the soldiers who first coaxed the pair from the bushes insist they are guard dogs, not pets, and immune from narrow interpretations of Army conventions

What a great line and a great story! The only thing missing are their, ahem, "dog tags". LOL! Thanks and Merry Christmas!

"They're very tactical. They'll growl."

Great story.

Tired Marine and dog sleep on a bed of rocks -- Okinawa

I'm glad you liked the article. Our soldiers each seem to have such a great sense of humor.

Merry Christmas.

Wow, what an awesome picture. Thanks.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas.

It's one of many excellent pix in U.S. Navy War Photographs: Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, edited by Edward Steichen.

Wonderful photo.

I thought Afghan Hounds had longer hair.

Factoid: one soldiers' mascot went to Hollywood and became a star ... Rin-Tin-Tin.

Thanks for the information.

He even has his own web site.

Let's see, how does that go now - copy, paste. Ah, got it, finally.

Web site here.

Great site. Thanks.