Kenosha marine and military war dog reunited

The Milwaukee Mitchell Airport was filled with joy as a U.S. Marine Corps veteran reunited with his military war dog. Kenosha native James Minton served with Boo in Afghanistan but they had not seen each other for a few years.

CBS 58 News reported the 3-year old dog wagged his tail in excitement as Minton greeted him at the airport. The veteran admitted he was nervous and happy to see his canine friend.

The two had worked together in the war zone looking for bombs. They were originally paired in North Carolina. Bo, a black Labrador, was trained specifically to sniff out explosives.

“He’d patrol out in front of us,” Minton, a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran Lance Corporal, said. “He was trained that way to be out in front. He’d be anywhere from 25 to 50 meters out there. When he’d alert on something he’d lay down and point at it – there’s something here. I’d give him a treat, say good job. We confirmed two of them over there. It was great because we were the only pair that got them.”

When Minton left the military, Boo had to stay behind and go back to Afghanistan.

WISN Milwaukee reported that the bond was never broken.

“It’s crazy like he went to Afghanistan again without me, and I was told he didn’t listen very well and awesome because he listened to me just fine, you know? (I) told him to sit he’d sit. (I) told him to do whatever he needed to do, he’d do it,” Minton said.

Minton is adopting Boo, now that the dog is retiring from military service. He said he is going to buy some toys for him. The American Humane Association and Mission K9 Rescue made the reunion possible.

The Mission K9 Rescue is a non-profit organization that provides assistance and support to working dogs worldwide. Their purpose is to serve retiring and retired military and contract dogs. They believe these dogs deserve a good retirement, a loving home and life-long care.

The organization provides monetary, transportation, adoption, and professional assistance for these retired hero dogs.