MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — Ninety airmen from the Minnesota National Guard are coming home this weekend. They’re members of the 133rd Air Lift Wing.

The first 29 landed this afternoon from Southwest Asia, where they were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

As usual, family members were there to greet their loved ones who had been gone for months.

One of the family members waiting at the airport today was Angel, a 13-year-old dog whose mission was just to be there.

Click the video above to watch photojournalist Gordy Leach’s story of Angel – a soldier’s best friend.