A pack of adopted dogs saved an American troops from a suicide bomber

This is a true story of a dog called Rufus and its canine friends who saved Sgt. Chris Duke and his fellow troopers from a suicide bomber.

While they were about to lay down to bed on the night of Feb. 11, 2010 at a solitary desert fortress in the province of Paktia. Afghanistan, Sgt. Chris Duke and his fellow soldiers- all 50 of them of Bravo Company's 48 Brigade- were alerted by an unusual barking of dogs.

The soldiers clutched their arms and threw themselves down ready for any eventuality. Then in a split second a bomb went off. Bang! The soldiers examined the vicinity to determine what and who caused the explosion. They discovered that a bomber got startled by the fierce barking of the dogs that chased and bit him before he could enter the barracks, forcing him to let go off the suicide bomb earlier than planned. 5 soldiers suffered injuries that night but no one died thanks to the dogs.

Unfortnately, a cute and tiny dog named Sasha perished in the attack and Rufus and another dog Target were seriously injured. The 3 dogs were friends. Rufus, Target and Sasha were stray dogs who used to prowl the area to look for food. They were adopted by Sgt. Duke because of his longings for his family and pet dogs back in Franklin, Georgia. Sasha was posthumoustly bestowed an American Red Cross Hero Dog Award.

Sgt. Duke was back in his home town in March 2010. But he was unhappy and restless having left his faithful dogs behind. So he requested help from Hope for Warriors and Puppy Rescue Mission to have Rufus and Target enplaned to his residence. His wish granted, Sgt. Duke, his wife Lauren, and the dogs had a happy reunion in July 29, 2010. The dogs left Afghanistan with aid of $21,000 contributed by Sgt. Duke's comrades-in-arms.

Not long after Target met an unfortunate ending, after surviving the harsh Afghan desert, the target practice, (for unwanted and stray dogs are subjected to by Afghan border police) and a suicide bomb. The poor dog was found euthanized at an animal pound after she strayed from her adopted home.

Today Rufus lives with the Dukes, showered with all the love and care in San Tan Valley, Arizona.