After more than two years apart, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Alcala has finally been reunited with John, a retired German shepherd military working dog. Alcala and John served together for three years while stationed in Hawaii.
The reunion took place a few days before Christmas when Alcala and his family welcomed John into their home in San Antonio, Texas. Alcala adopted John after the dog’s retirement, following nearly a decade of service as an explosives detection canine.
“John means a lot to me,” Alcala said, describing the dog as his best friend during their time at Hawaii’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. “He helped me get through each day, and whenever things got tough, he always lifted my spirits.”
The pair first met in 2018 and quickly formed a bond, becoming certified as a team within two weeks. Between 2018 and 2021, Alcala and John served in various security and law enforcement roles across the island of Oahu. During their time together, they protected high-profile VIPs, including the U.S. vice president and first lady.
In 2021, Alcala was reassigned to a base in North Dakota. Despite his efforts to extend his service in Hawaii to remain with John, he was unsuccessful.
“I made him a promise when I was leaving that I would come back for him in some way, to make sure he came home with me and could live out the rest of his life on my couch,” Alcala said.
Two years later, John retired due to old age. Alcala then contacted American Humane, an organization that facilitates the adoption process to reunite military dogs with their former handlers. The organization arranged for a handler to travel over 4,000 miles, bringing John from Hawaii to his new home in Texas, where he was finally reunited with Alcala.
“It just fills my heart to have him with me and to have my best friend by my side again,” Alcala said.
