20 years later, neighbors realize they were Army buddies

Don't believe in miracles? After you hear (and read) this story about two Army buddies reuniting for the first time in nearly half a century, you just might.

After all that time apart, Roger Watson and Dave Brown found out they've been much, much closer than they ever realized. Yes, they are actually neighbors ... for they've been just next door for the past 18 years!

The men grew up in the same Detroit neighborhood, and they enlisted on the same day in 1966.

Roger told INSIDE EDITION, "People shake their heads and say, 'You never saw him take the trash out?'"

Dave said, "Roger and I were very good friends."

They were assigned to the same combat unit in Vietnam. In 1968, Roger was badly wounded, losing a kidney. He was sent home. David said, "After the war, I wondered about him."

Flash-forward to the present. Dave's wife, Peggy, strikes up an acquaintance with the friendly neighbor beyond the backyard fence in Berkley, Michigan, and finds out his name is Roger Watson.

Then, while walking past Roger's house, she noticed the wounded combat veteran license plate on his car and a military hat inside the rear window.

Peggy told INSIDE EDITION, "It said, 9th infantry. Oh my God, that's what Dave was in."

Peggy put two and two together and the next thing you know, Roger and Dave were saying hello for the first time in almost 50 years.

Now, these two happy families are overjoyed to call themselves friends -- and two soldiers got to speak the words they've longed to say for a long, long time: "Welcome home."


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