Soldier with Bone Cancer Has Emotional Reunion with Dog He Bonded with While Deployed Overseas

A U.S. Army veteran recently had an emotional reunion with a stray dog he met while serving overseas.

When Sgt. Stormy was deployed in February 2025, he didn’t expect to form a bond with a starving stray puppy. But after finding the small dog in a bunker, the two connected immediately. He named her Jasmine.

Not long after, Stormy faced a life-changing health crisis: at just 20 years old, he was diagnosed with bone cancer in his knee.

“I got a call in August that said, ‘I hurt my knee, they found a tumor in my leg and I’m flying home,’” Stormy’s mom said.

Following the diagnosis, Stormy returned to the United States and began treatment at Walter Reed National Military Hospital in Washington, D.C. He has been undergoing chemotherapy, and his family is preparing for an upcoming surgery.

Through everything, one thought stayed with him: Jasmine was still in the Middle East.

“Thank goodness he found this puppy dog because she’s been giving him something to look forward to,” Stormy’s mom said. “When he found Paws of War and said that she was coming home, we were just like ‘What?’”

Stormy’s family connected with Paws of War, a nonprofit that rescues animals for veterans and first responders and also provides service dogs and support services at no cost.

“This is a story that has touched many hearts, and we all wanted to ensure that mission was a success,” Derek Cartwright, a U.S. Army veteran and logistics coordinator for Paws of War, said in a press release. “We are grateful to everyone who helped make this mission possible, so that Jasmine and Sgt. Stormy could be back together again.”

Cartwright traveled to the Middle East himself to ensure Jasmine made it safely to the U.S. After navigating the required logistics, the organization arranged for the God Bless America Motorcycle Color Guard to escort Jasmine to Stormy’s home in Pennsylvania.

On Dec. 7, Stormy’s parents brought him out to the driveway for the arrival. Family and friends gathered nearby, waiting to witness the moment.

According to a press release, the reunion was “overwhelmingly emotional for everyone,” and the pair’s bond was “evident.”

“I’m so happy to have Jasmine here with me and so grateful for everything Paws of War did to make it happen,” Stormy said. “It’s a difficult time in my life, but having her by my side certainly helps.”

Now, Jasmine is back where she belongs—offering comfort and constant companionship as Stormy continues through one of the hardest chapters of his life, just as he once protected her when she needed help most.