When a young puppy wandered onto an American military encampment in Iraq, he became fast friends with the troops, especially former Army Specialist Ken Wyrsch.

“He was there when we left on our missions, he was there when we got back,” Wyrsch said to CBS SF. His lovable nature made the dog so popular, the troops named him “Oliver” and made him camp mascot.

A month later, Wyrsch, now at home in San Francisco, heard that the camp was being shut down. Never one to leave a man behind, he got in touch with SPCA International.

“If Ken left and Oliver was left behind he would have had a terrible life,” SPCA International employee Stephanie Scott told ABC.

The two reunited at SFO airport with the SPCA’s help.