[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 189 (Tuesday, December 11, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H15277-H15278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1930
HONORING THE U.S. MARINE CORPS' DECISION TO ALLOW FAMILY OF FALLEN
MARINE TO ADOPT SON'S K-9 PARTNER, LEX
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Jones) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, too often during wartime,
tragedy takes center stage and heart-warming stories never get told.
Tonight I would like to share a truly touching story with my colleagues
in the House and with the American people.
Corporal Dustin Jerome Lee was a United States Marine Corps working-
dog handler who was killed in action on March 21, 2007, in Fallujah,
Iraq. Corporal Lee and his canine partner, Lex, a 7-year-old German
shepherd from Camp Lejeune were a highly trained explosives detection
team. Lex, who was due for retirement after his combat tour in Iraq,
suffered shrapnel wounds from the same enemy-fired rocket-propelled
grenade that took Corporal Lee's life.
Following Corporal Lee's death, the Lee family began seeking to adopt
their son's canine companion who was with their son during the last
moments on Earth. However, after filing the necessary paperwork,
contacts at Marine Corps Logistic Base Albany indicated that Lex had
been medically evaluated and, although injured, was fit for duty and
not yet eligible for adoption.
I first learned of the Lee family's situation by reading the short
story, ``My Partner Dustin,'' written by John Burnam, author of ``Dog
Tags of Courage.''
Madam Speaker, at this time I will submit the text of the story for
the Congressional Record.
My Partner Dustin
(By John C. Burnam)
I'm a U.S. Marine and the primary element of a two-member
team trained to hunt and locate explosives. My partner and I
trained as a team for many months honing our expertise to
save American lives in the War on Terrorism in Iraq.
The date is March 21, 2007 and I was on the job in
Fallujah, Iraq when an enemy fired Rocket Propelled Grenade
(RPG) exploded in our midst. I was blasted to the ground. I'm
Stunned. My head is ringing and my body feels numb. My eyes
can't quite focus on anything.
My partner is lying next to me severely wounded and
bleeding. I move to him and touch him but he's not
responding. I feel sharp pains in my side and back. I'm
bleeding but deal with it and concentrate on comforting my
partner and protecting him from further harm.
Everything happened so fast that it caused disorientation
and confusion. My senses pick up the lingering smell of burnt
powder and smoke from the explosion. I hear lots of American
voices and heavy boot-steps hurrying all around us. They
reach our location and immediately attend to my partner. And
then they carry him away. I'm separated from my partner for
the first time. I'm not clear of thought and then I too am
carried way but to a different hospital.
I'm in a building lying on a table with lights above and
people talking. Still dazed and confused I hear a strange
voice say my name, ``Lex!'' I gesture a slight reflex of
acknowledgement. ``Lex! You are going to be okay buddy! Just
lay still. We are going to take care of your hurts, so stay
calm okay, Lex?'' My eyes dart around the room searching for
my partner, but he's not there and no one can interpret my
thoughts.
I'm released from the hospital and well enough to travel so
they transfer me from Iraq to a U.S. Marine Corp base in
Albany, Georgia. I really miss my partner, Dusty. I know
something has happened to him because he would never have
left me alone for so long.
Yes, my name is Lex. I'm a seven year old German shepherd
Military Working Dog. My master and loyal partner is Corporal
Dustin Jerome Lee, U.S. Marine Corps canine handler from
Mississippi. I'm well disciplined to
[[Page H15278]]
my master's commands and expertly trained to sniff out bombs
and explosives. Where's my master, Dusty? Where's Dusty, my
partner? No one can understand me but Dusty. Where's Dusty?
Iraq was to be my last combat tour before retirement. Dusty
talked to me all the time about going home and adopting me. I
sure do miss my Dusty. He is the best friend I've ever had. I
love that crazy Marine from Mississippi!
No one can measure the love and unconditional loyalty I
have for Dusty. I'd sacrifice my own life for him and he
knows it. I just wish I could have stopped that RPG or pushed
Dusty away from that powerful blast. It all happened in a
blink of an eye and I didn't see it coming until it was too
late. Now I sit alone in my kennel-run waiting for the day
Dusty shows up.
The U.S. Marines are treating me very well. I get enough
food and water and exercise each day. And the Veterinarian
comes by to examine my wounds on a regular basis. I just
can't sleep well at night. I wake up to every little noise
and I think about Dusty. Where can that Marine be?
The nights are long. The days turn into weeks. Still no
Dusty! My wounds are healing and the hair is growing back.
The pain still resides in my back but I can walk okay. I have
a piece of shrapnel near my spine that the Veterinarians
avoided removing for fear of further health complications.
I've been fortunate to be declared physically unable to
perform in a combat zone.
One of the dog handlers gave me a real good bath and
grooming. I felt so refreshed because I was on my way to meet
Dusty's family. Maybe Dusty will be there waiting for me.
When I arrived I sensed something was not quite right. Dusty
wasn't there and everyone was sad, but very happy to greet
me. I then realized that I was attending Dusty's funeral.
Everyone showed up to pay their respects.
Dusty is a real American hero and he was buried with full
military honors. I was so proud to have been his last best
friend and partner. At one particular moment of total silence
during the ceremony, I sniffed a slight scent in the air that
was very familiar. It smelled like Dusty. I figured he sent
me a signal that he knew I was there! I moaned a sigh of
grief that he would only hear and understand.
I was greeted by the Lee family with joy in their hearts.
The picture is of Dustin's mom, Rachel, and me in church. It
felt so warm and comfortable to be with my partner's loving
family. I wanted to stay but I was escorted away after the
funeral and back to Albany, Georgia. What is going to happen
to me now?
Wait a minute! I was due for retirement, right? Why did the
military take me to see Dusty's family and not leave me
there? I belong with them in Mississippi not here in Georgia.
There is something very wrong with this picture!
The Lee family adopting me would not be too much to ask
considering they will never again see their son, grandson,
brother, nephew and friend. Adopting me will keep a big part
of Dusty's life alive for them and for me too! I will enable
Dusty's family to experience what he already knew about me. I
loved and protected him everywhere we went and even on the
battlefield in Iraq. It's time the U.S. Marine Corps allowed
Dustin's family to adopt me. I'm not a young pup anymore, you
know! I'm of retirement age and I want to spend the rest of
my life with the Lee family. It's where I now belong!
After learning this story, I spoke with Corporal Lee's father, Jerome
Lee, by phone on several occasions. Mr. Lee continued to express the
joy and comfort that caring for Lex would bring to him and his family,
and he requested my assistance in securing the adoption of Lex.
After speaking with Mr. Lee, I began contacting the United States
Marine Corps to communicate and endorse their request. Recently, the
Marine Corps confirmed to me that the request would be granted and the
Lee family would be able to retrieve Lex from Marine Corps Logistic
Base Albany within the next 2 weeks.
Allowing the Lee family to adopt Lex will not only help lessen the
family's ongoing grief, but also serve as a fitting thank you to
parents who gave the ultimate gift of their son for this country.
I am so grateful to the United States Marine Corps and Commandant
James Conway for the tremendous gift they have chosen to bestow upon
Jerome and Rachel Lee.
I am also very grateful to Brigadier General Michael Regner and Major
General Robert Dickerson for their role in enabling the adoption to
proceed.
Although Lex will never replace their son, caring for Lex will bring
such joy and comfort to the Lee family, as well as to the dog himself.
Welcoming Lex into the Lee family will keep a big part of Corporal
Lee's life alive for their family.
Lex loved and protected Corporal Lee on the battlefield, and now
Corporal Lee's family will have the opportunity to love and protect Lex
in the peaceful surroundings of their home in Mississippi.
The United States Marine Corps has demonstrated its tremendous
compassion and understanding by making this adoption a reality for the
parents of one of our Nation's fallen heroes.
I close, Madam Speaker, by asking God to please bless the United
States Marine Corps and all of our men and women in uniform, and may
God continue to bless America.
Mr. TAYLOR. Madam Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I yield to the gentleman from
Mississippi.
Mr. TAYLOR. The Lee family is from Quitman, Mississippi. The dad is a
State Trooper. The mom is a public school teacher. I want to thank you
for doing this. I regret that the request was not made of my office.
But it just once again proves what a decent Joe you are, Walter. Thank
you for doing that
Mr. JONES of North Carolina. I appreciate the gentleman. And I will
tell the gentleman, before he sits down, when I read this story it
brought tears to my eyes. And I asked Mr. Burnam, who had been in
Vietnam himself as a dog handler, What should I do, what could I do. He
said, Do what your heart tells you to do. And my dear friend from
Mississippi, I didn't even know where this man was in Mississippi. I
just picked up the phone because Camp Lejeune was in my district. But
thank you for what you said. And may God continue to bless America.
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