After Soldier and His Dog Are Injured by IED Blast, the Pair Share Same Hospital Room — and a Touching Photo With a Purple Heart Goes Viral

After a soldier and his military working dog were injured this week by an IED blast while they searched a structure during Afghanistan operations, the pair shared the same hospital room while recovering.

A photo of the dog — named Rocky — wearing a Purple Heart from a head strap while resting under a cover has gone viral.

Image via 89th Military Police Brigade/Facebook

The Facebook post with the photo has received more than 50,000 likes, 62,000 shares and 5,700 comments since Wednesday.

Rocky and his injured handler, identified as Spc. Brown, are with Fort Hood’s 89th Military Police Brigade. "Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers as they recover during the holiday season," the post from the brigade's page concluded.

But there's good news.

A follow-up note posted Friday showed Brown and Rocky both up and alert and "doing well."

Image via 89th Military Police Brigade/Facebook

"They are both very thankful for your thoughts and prayers and are in the process of heading back home," Friday's post said. "Spc. Brown arrived early this morning to Walter Reed where he was met by his waiting family, and Rocky is expected to return to Fort Hood in the coming weeks. Please remember them, as well as all our soldiers deployed around the world, during the holiday season. Proven in Battle!"

(H/T: KWTX-TV)

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