Ceremony held for fallen K-9 at Grizzly Bend

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristina Overton
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs Office
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  Very few military members have the rare and distinctive honor of handling military working dogs. These four-legged members fulfill some of the most dangerous jobs that could be assigned, including narcotics detection, supporting of Federal and local Law Enforcement and suspect pursuit. Just like all military members, they work to protect and sustain the freedoms of our nation. On March 7, Malmstrom lost one of those members to a cancerous tumor. His name was Kajo.

MWD Kajo's memorial ceremony was held outside the Grizzly Bend Club April 2.

More than 60 people, including fellow dog handlers and their K-9 accomplices, attended the ceremony paying their respects to their fallen comrade. After the service and a slide presentation of Kajo's life and contributions to the United States Air Force, the crowd was released outdoors for the 21 gun salute and presentation of the colors near Medal of Honor Park.

Kajo was whelped on Sept. 1, 2002. He entered Narcotics Detection training in April of 2004, and after receiving his certification, was trained and certified as a Patrol Narcotics dog in September. He was assigned to Malmstrom Air Force Base on Sept. 24.

One of his previous handler's, Tech. Sgt. Mark Chandler, 341st Security Forces Squadron K-9 handler, recalled some fond memories of the time he spent with Kajo.

"I started to work with Kajo in May of 2008," said Sergeant Chandler. "I'm the trainer and only work a dog when we are low manned but have many great memories of working with him. I think the best memory was when the former vice wing commander came out and put on a bite suit to take bites from a dog. Kajo did a great job and took him to the ground more than once. It's not every day you get to release your dog on wing leadership."

Senior Airman Monty Ell was also reminded of some of Kajo's skills and characteristics.

"He could find lost or hiding people in buildings or fields, find drugs anywhere, or stop a fleeing suspect at a moment's notice, "said Airman Ell, Kajo's most recent K-9 handler. "When it comes to patrol work, Kajo knew what he was doing and I knew that if anything would happen while on duty Kajo would not think twice. He would always have my back. He would do what he was trained to do, to protect his handler, Security Forces members, civilians or military members from any harm."

Airman Ell was Kajo's handler for the last four months, working side by side with him to complete the day-to-day mission.

"Losing a partner is always hard," Airman Ell said. "You spend almost as much time with the dog as you do your family between training and actual work. After a couple of weeks you build a strong bond with them, and you begin to trust each other. Kajo, even though he was nearing the end of his life, worked as hard as he could to please his handler and protect all the people assigned to Malmstrom even up to the last seconds. He's more than just a friend to me, he's a hero, and he's a rock star."

Kajo had shown no signs of being sick initially. During his last mission when he responded to an alarm activation in the armory of building 500, he went in and cleared it like a champ. Upon his return to the kennels, the handlers noticed he wasn't looking like himself, and that his stomach was swelling, so they took him to the veterinarian.

The vet conducted a series of tests and found blood in his chest cavity. After undergoing exploratory surgery, it was found that Kajo had cancer.

A quote from Jeffery Bennett, co-executive producer of "War Dogs, Americas Forgotten Heroes" summed up the sentiment affiliated with the loss of a K-9 member.

"The leather leash and chain hanging from the kennel represent the eternal bond between dog and handler. The empty kennel where they [the dogs] once slept represents the life that they gave to protect us, our brothers and our freedom. The inverted bucket reminds us that they are no longer here for us to fulfill their needs of food or water, for which in life they asked for no more in return than our companionship and affection. Those who have called themselves dog handlers are the only people who will truly understand the bond between a handler and a dog, a bond which cannot be broken, even in death."