LAKEWOOD -
About 250 Soldiers from 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division returned home to their families and friends at a ceremony currently Monday night.
The big welcome home was held at the Sheridan Gym on Joint Base Lewis McChord.
The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom last July.
This flight marks the beginning of the return for the brigade's "main body". A small number of Soldiers returned earlier this month as part of the brigade's advance party, and a small "trail party" will return a few weeks after the rest of the brigade.
The majority of the brigade's 5500 Soldiers are expected to return to JBLM by late July.
One of the most highly anticipated reunions involves this Afghan Mountain Dog named Oso and, the Stryker Brigade soldier who found him in Afghanistan and saved his life.
We first told you about this story back in february when Oso arrived here in Washington after a nine thousand mile trip.
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion found the pup but it was his wife Lena and Pesado Safe Haven who did all the heavy lifting to get her flown back to Washington.
Lena Bourrillion says, "There was lots of paperwork, in country logistics is a big thing, safety of transporting the dog. The availability of vaccines is really limited so she was actually waiting for almost two months for rabies vaccine so she could come here. She went through that with them and was there for them when they didn't have a lot to look forward to."
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion found Oso 7-thousand feet up in the Afghan mountains.
He didn't want to leave her behind. He knew if he did she probably wouldn't survive.
So when Lena heard the story, she knew she had to bring the dog home to puyallup.
That's a far cry from the way Oso is living today.
A haircut an pedicure at Petsmart to make sure she looks her best for the reunion.
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion says, It's intense. I have dogs at home so when I found her it remined my of home. It's good to be back home with my family and my dog. It's pretty amazing."
The brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom last July.
This flight marks the beginning of the return for the brigade's "main body". A small number of Soldiers returned earlier this month as part of the brigade's advance party, and a small "trail party" will return a few weeks after the rest of the brigade.
The majority of the brigade's 5500 Soldiers are expected to return to JBLM by late July.
One of the most highly anticipated reunions involves this Afghan Mountain Dog named Oso and, the Stryker Brigade soldier who found him in Afghanistan and saved his life.
We first told you about this story back in february when Oso arrived here in Washington after a nine thousand mile trip.
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion found the pup but it was his wife Lena and Pesado Safe Haven who did all the heavy lifting to get her flown back to Washington.
Lena Bourrillion says, "There was lots of paperwork, in country logistics is a big thing, safety of transporting the dog. The availability of vaccines is really limited so she was actually waiting for almost two months for rabies vaccine so she could come here. She went through that with them and was there for them when they didn't have a lot to look forward to."
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion found Oso 7-thousand feet up in the Afghan mountains.
He didn't want to leave her behind. He knew if he did she probably wouldn't survive.
So when Lena heard the story, she knew she had to bring the dog home to puyallup.
That's a far cry from the way Oso is living today.
A haircut an pedicure at Petsmart to make sure she looks her best for the reunion.
Specialist Phillip Bourrillion says, It's intense. I have dogs at home so when I found her it remined my of home. It's good to be back home with my family and my dog. It's pretty amazing."
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