The two daughters of an airman who died in a helicopter crash in March have been given the puppy their father promised them before he deployed to Iraq.
Just before heading overseas, Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso, 39, of Long Island, New York, told his daughters — Eva, five, and Mila, seven — that he would get them a puppy when he returned home.
Raguso, a special missions aviation flight engineer assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard, died on March 15 when the HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter he was in crashed in western Iraq. He was one of seven airmen who died in the crash.
Before deploying to Iraq, Master Sergeant Christopher Raguso, 39, promised his daughters Eva (left) and Mila that he would give them a puppy. He died in a helicopter crash in March
Paws for War surprised Raguso’s daughters with the puppy he promised them on Friday
Five months after their father’s death, Eva and Mila received the dog their father had promised them, thanks to Paws of War, an organization that pairs shelter dogs with military veterans and their families, CBS New York reported.
Paws of War turned up to the Raguso’s Long Island home on Friday and surprised the two girls with Calvin, a black Labrador puppy.
‘This is my dream! This is my dream!’ Eva was heard shouting as she held the puppy’s leash.
Raguso’s widow, Carmela, told gathered media that Eva has been having a particularly hard time dealing with her father’s death.
Raguso’s wife said that she hoped the puppy would be youngest daughter Eva’s new sleeping buddy as the child has been having a hard time sleeping since her father died
Puppy Calvin was set to be euthanized at a shelter before being rescued and given to Paws of War, who then matched the black Labrador up with the Raguso family
‘She tosses and turns, and she’s in bed with me every night. She sleeps in daddy’s spot,’ Carmela said, according to ABC 7. She added that she hopes that Calvin will be Eva’s new sleeping buddy ‘so maybe we’ll get some peace.’
Raguso was a NYFD lieutenant who had been previously deployed to Iraq as a fire protection specialist, twice to Afghanistan with the 101st Rescue Squadron and once to the Horn of Africa, according to the Military Times.
Raguso was also sent to Texas and the Caribbean after Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.
Calvin was due to be euthanized at an overcrowded Louisiana shelter before being rescued and given to Long Island-based Paws of Rescue.