Kicker: A heartwarming reunion

NICK EICHER, HOST: U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Payton May spent two years deployed, of which 9 months were in Iraq, and by his side was a canine soldier, Yyacob, a Belgian Malinois.

Sound from ABC News:

MAY: Working with each other and going on secret service missions and going on deployment, was able to come together and build that trust.

Yyacob was an explosives detective and he had the trust of his master! But then May was reassigned to another base and had to leave Yyacob behind:

MAY: It was kind of heartbreaking to be honest with you.

The dog wasn’t able to bond with subsequent handlers so the military had to retire Yyacob.

Well, just before Thanksgiving, after a two-year separation? The now 8 year old Yyacob had a sweet reunion with May:

MAY: I’m very thankful to have this little guy home. Awww, buddy! Laughter. Oh, wow!

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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