An American soldier's return from Afghanistan, taped in 2005 by his wife, has suddenly become a viral-video sensation -- thanks to the welcome-home yelps his elated dog, Gracie, gave upon seeing him again for the first time. The video only recently became a YouTube sensation after it was included in a Veterans Day video montage.
In the home video, then-Lieutenant Andrew Schmidt of the West Virginia Air National Guard, dressed in fatigues, is coming back from a five-month tour in Afghanistan. But he can't get past the sidewalk in front of his Springfield, Virginia house before Gracie, then a two-year-old golden retriever, bolts forth from the front door.
Earlier this week, Andrew Schmidt told The Today Show, "We're really close. You know, dogs get to be like your kids. The truth is, I missed all my family, and when I got off that plane I was home -- a little bit. And then when I drove down the street and looked out the window, I was home a little bit more. But I knew when that door opened and she came running out, I felt like I was finally at home."
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I cried when I watched this. That was so perfect to record it so they will have that precious memory forever! What a great story.
How sweet was that?! I am so happy that the wife was able to capture that moment on video!
OMG I have 2 dogs that is the most cutest video.. See even dogs have feelings see how much she missed him and loves him. My eyes got watery.. It was great that his wife was able to get that footage and now how popular it is.. This is a video u will have forever . thank you for sharing it
Ivette
THIS IS WHY WHAT MIKE VICK DID WAS SUCH A DISGRACE!!! PIT BULLS AND ALL OF THE OTHER BREEDS THAT HE TORTURED LOVE JUST LIKE THIS DOG!!!!!!
Lisa,
Thank you, I cOUldn't have said it better myself! These preciOUs "Fur Kids" bring so much unconditional love to their parents. Humanity cOUld learn a lot from these sweet babies!
Cats don't do that.
hi, that's not exactly true...
I have a cat, Clyde that when I return from trips he does his best to let me know he missed me, granted he learned it from my dog Blu's reactions, but Clyde actually gets really excited.
Yes, they do. When I came back from Baghdad, my cat Soccer carried on, jumping into the air, running circles around me and rubbing all over my clothes. She was practically smiling. It was amazing. I just wish someone had been there to videotape our reunion.
Cats do too.
Last year I relocated to WI from Charlotte, NC in August.
My partner stayed behone for a couple month with the pets then came up in November.
When he came in and let the cats out of the cat carrier both my cats ran out stopped in their tracks and took a double take of me.
There were all over me for days.
My dog was equally as happy.
What planet are you from cats most certainly do great you just as much as dogs do.
Both of my cats flip out when we come home. Of course, one of my cats has personality issues and thinks he's a dog, so that may explain it.
Maybe your cats don't, but mine sure do. My little girl greets me every single day when I get home. If I'm gone for a longer period then when it's just going to work she acts EXACTLY like that. And then follows me around EVERYWHERE I go in the house, even the bathroom! Dogs are wonderful, but cats are smarter and have so much more personality!
There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life. . .music and cats!
Albert Schweitzer
Mine does. Everytime I pull in the driveway I hear him meowing at the door. When I walk in he jumps all over me. I do think that he was maybe a dog in a past life but either way they are great companions just like dogs:)
no that's not true, when I come home after being gone my cats hover all around me and rub!!
My cats dont jump up and down like the others here. But when I do sit in a chair, they jump onto my lap and rub my face with theirs. As long as they dont rub my face with their ass, its ok. :-D
3 of my 8 cats absolutely love me to death. Momo was a stray and is a ragdoll breed and all he does is talk/purr and loves me up day and night. Bentley is a tabby and my son brought him home to me when Bents was only 4 weeksn old and he gives me kisses and talks up a storm. Laap (Lucky in Thai) is now 6 months and a rescue that I adopted at a PetSmart fair (and brought him home-400 miles awa)and cuddles under the covers with me and crawls into my armpit/shoulders and just purrs and makes biscuits. He follows me and rubs me all the time. I never thought cats were so affectionate but mine are. I lost both my dogs two years ago and am so happy I have these cats to keep me laughing and loving.
This is what America is about with the family and dog welcoming back a real American Hero. So much of what else I could say about this country rotting at the spine is utterly disgusting and disgraceful--but not about this hero and this family. They are what we USED to be. The last 20 years of open cultural septic over flow has been allowed to flourish in America. God bless this soldier and all the others...
Yeah paul's right the way america used to be, when george bush was running into the ground
THIS COULDN'T JUST BE A NICE STORY. SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO START THE POLITCAL BS. SOMEONE ALWAYS HAS TO TURN THINGS INTO AN UGLY MESS. GOOD JOB JOHN ANGELINI AND THE REST!
John,
Ditto, Ditto, Ditto!...