Nice to meet you

Charles Long III meets his father’s former military working dog Rambo at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 17, 2011. When Charles started asking about his dad, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Long II, his mother Erin Burgess decided to show him where his father worked before he died in a motorcycle accident in 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

Get him

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Aaron Madison and Staff Sgt. Steven Daniel, 820th Combat Operations Squadron military working dog handlers, and Rrozn demonstrate how handlers and MWDs work together at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 17, 2011. The demonstration was for 4-year-old Charles Long III who lost his father, Staff Sgt. Charles Long II, to a motorcycle accident in 2007. Sergeant Long was a MWD handler with the 820th COS. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

Future dog handler

U. S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jamie Morris, 820th Combat Operations Squadron superintendent, presents Charles Long III with a dog leash at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 17, 2011. The 820th COS also presented Charles with gifts in remembrance of his father, Staff Sgt. Charles Long II, and coordinated for him to watch a demonstration of the canine obstacle course. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

A look into the past

Charles Long III and his mother Erin Burgess take a tour of the 820th Combat Operations Squadron military working dog unit facility at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., June 17, 2011. Charles never met his father, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Charles Long II. When he began to ask questions about him, Erin and the 820th COS arranged for him to see what his dad did before passing away in 2007. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stephanie Mancha/Released)

Father's life reflected through working dogs

Published June 21, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs

Moody -- Four years after Erin Burgess lost her fiancé their son Charles 'Trip' Long III started asking questions about his father. This brought them to Moody to shed some light on the job his father performed as a military working dog handler.

Staff Sgt. Charles Mike 'Shorty' Long Jr. was a 824th Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler stationed at Moody in 2007 when he died, leaving behind a fiancé and child on the way.

"The accident happened before Trip was born so he never had the chance to meet his father and see what he did," said Ms. Burgess. "Now Trip is getting older and starting to ask questions about his father and his career.

"Mike was a dog handler and it's important to me that Trip always remembers his dad was part of something great," she added.

This was Trip's first visit to the kennel where his father worked, and he was named an honorary MWD handler for life.

"We were contacted by the family a week before the demonstration asking if it would be possible for his wife and kid to visit and talk with the current Airmen here," said Master Sgt. Jamie Morris, 820th Combat Operations Squadron superintendent. "We wanted to get the family in as soon as possible and it just so happened to be right before Father's Day."

Trip's favorite part of the day was the bite demonstration, where the MWD pursued someone in a padded jacket who was trying to resist arrest or flee.

Trip also had the chance to look inside the kennel and meet the dogs that live in the there.

While he was touring the kennels, he had the chance to meet someone special who knew his father- Rambo. Sergeant Long was Rambo's handler during his time at the 824th SFS.

"Trip has a love for animals just like his father did," said Ms. Burgess. "This visit is something that he will eventually look back on and be really excited about."

The 820th Base Defense Group presented Trip with a few gifts to remember his father, including a dog leash.

"I want Trip to always remember what his father did," said Ms. Burgess. "I really hope throughout the years, I can bring Trip back here to keep the memory of his father alive."