A Lifetime of Loyalty

RAF MILDENHALL, England – U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Charlie Pope, 100th Air Refueling Wing kennel master, sat down with his retired military working dog, Ivan. His hands ran across the top of the dog’s greying head and gently held the white muzzle of the black Labrador, meeting his opaque eyes with a sad smile.

“He was a military working dog from 2017 to 2024. He transitioned out of the Marines after about three years, and we picked him up in California and brought him to Nellis,” said Pope.

Ivan is a large, 12-year-old black Labrador. Grizzled, cancer has gripped his spine to the point that he no longer has control of his rear legs. His companion, Pope, strung a towel around his belly and hoisted his lower half as he waddled into the office and onto a large dog bed. His fragile frame and faltering steps belie the dog he once was, and the extraordinary journey he shared with the man who never stopped being his handler, partner and friend.

“We deployed for about six months into Saudi Arabia and developed a pretty strong bond through our time there,” said Pope. “I was going through some personal hurdles in life, and he was there to be that loving person for me. Whenever we came upon some things on the road that weren’t too fun, he was there to be that supportive partner - a true dog, but also being there to protect the base, protect others, and go anywhere we were asked to go.”

Pope has worked with eight other MWDs throughout his career and explained that Ivan only deployed with him, forming a stronger bond than with any other dog he’s trained.

“We’ve been to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pennsylvania, Dover…we’ve been all over the world together, and with all that travel and his years of service, I was the only handler to deploy with him. He’s meant a lot to me…a hell of a lot.”

Pope was the second of four handlers who would eventually train and care for Ivan before his medical retirement. Years after they were separated, Pope traveled to multiple bases before leaving South Korea for his new assignment at RAF Mildenhall. He found the individual who was handling Ivan at the end of the dog’s career and reached out to him, as well as a nonprofit organization that helped rehome retiring MWDs with their previous handlers.

“I found the handler who was retiring Ivan and started working things out,” Pope said. “I knew I deserved this dog. This is my homie, this is my kid. I have two daughters, and he really is just like another one of my kids…and now that we’re here - getting to the end of the road, it’s hard.”

Pope briefly reflected on how difficult it was to retrieve Ivan from different entities and handlers, and how downtrodden he felt that it had become such a task. He was not confident he’d ever get Ivan back. “It took a lot of effort, and I really didn’t think we were going to make it happen, but it worked out perfectly because another dog was being transferred and rehomed to Lakenheath,” Pope explained. “So, both Ivan and another MWD were flown from Houston straight to Heathrow Airport in February 2025.”

Pope said he sobbed in the Heathrow terminal after being reunited with Ivan after four long years. Pope had his family intact once again and was given the opportunity to live with and enjoy his time with Ivan for the next 20 months. Ivan’s health declined quickly in September of 2026, cutting his retirement shorter than planned. Ivan’s drooping eyes stared up at Pope as he held him and continued to recount their story until there was solemn silence.

“He’s my best friend,” said Pope, petting Ivan gently with tears in his eyes. “He’s impacted a lot in my life, and he’s impacted a lot in others. All he wants is love, and he’s a good dog…the best, actually.”

Ivan was laid to rest on October 6, 2026. He lived a full, vibrant life - saving those who never knew him, while working alongside those who loved him deeply.

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