Staff Sergeant Derek Pullman struggled to control Ajax, an 80-pound Belgian Malinois and combat veteran, who had attacked multiple handlers and faced euthanasia. Onlookers watched anxiously as Pullman announced that today’s test would decide the dog’s fate.
In the crowd, a homeless man in a tattered jacket stepped forward—Cole Reeves, once Marine Corps call sign “Nomad.” Cole had been living on the streets since a traumatic military discharge but recognized Ajax immediately. Despite warnings, he approached and knelt in front of the trembling dog, blowing an old whistle and whispering commands in Pashto tied to a 2011 combat mission.
The effect was immediate: Ajax relaxed, his defensive aggression replaced with recognition and relief. The bleachers erupted, euthanasia was called off, and Cole’s expertise was validated. Colonel Finch offered him a civilian role to rehabilitate combat dogs, on the condition he also help other homeless veterans.
Months later, Cole’s Canine Rehabilitation and Veteran Reintegration Program opened, pairing veterans with “unrecoverable” dogs. Ajax thrived alongside Cole, and together they restored trust and purpose for both humans and animals. Cole’s philosophy was simple: broken soldiers understand broken dogs—and sometimes, all it takes is speaking the right language to save a life.