[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 21]
[Senate]
[Page 27970]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    ALLOWING A CONTINUING FRIENDSHIP

  Mr. ALLARD. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss the future of Air 
Force TSgt. Jamie Dana and her working military dog Rex.
  When our Nation's leaders called thousands of men and women in 
uniform to liberate Iraq from its most brutal dictator, Technical 
Sergeant Dana was among those brave citizens for whom the duty to her 
country comes before all other luxuries. Technical Sergeant Dana joined 
the Air Force in 1998 and volunteered to serve in Iraq. Her assignment 
included supporting Army personnel by clearing vehicles at checkpoints 
and searching buildings for booby traps and explosives. Jamie was never 
alone while performing her duties in Iraq. She was accompanied by a 
working military dog, Rex, a 5-year-old German shepherd. The duo had 
trained together in the military fo 3 years and deployed as a team 
first to Pakistan and then Iraq.
  Last June, after completing another mission, Technical Sergeant Dana 
and Rex were traveling in an armored humvee when a roadside bomb 
exploded under her seat. She suffered severe wounds resulting in 
massive internal bleeding that required 19 blood transfusions. ``The 
helicopter ride was the scariest 45 minutes of my life,'' remembers 
Major Paul Morton, a member of the medical trauma team who helped save 
Jamie's life.
  Even when facing death, Technical Sergeant Dana never stopped 
thinking about her friend and comrade Rex. While recuperating from the 
injuries she suffered in Iraq, Rex has always been in Jamie's prayers. 
Although her future in the Armed Forces remains uncertain to this day, 
Dana never questions her decision to go to war. As she stated in a 
recent interview, ``I had begged for it. I wanted to deploy. You want 
to feel like you're a part of it.''
  After her military duty is over, Technical Sergeant Dana plans to 
become a different kind of vet--a veterinarian, a profession that I 
admire. Dana asked the Air Force for permission to adopt her beloved 
friend, and I commend the leadership of the Air Force and Senator 
Warner for their efforts to find a legislative solution to Jamie's 
request. I fully support the inclusion of this solution in the Defense 
authorization conference report. The work of our Nation's military and 
political leaders demonstrates their willingness to express our humble 
gratitude to those who proudly wear our Nation's uniform and endanger 
their lives to protect the freedom that we often take for granted. 
Jamie's story traveled thousands of miles and warmed the hearts of her 
fellow Americans, as well as political and military leaders.
  A simple act of Congress will allow Technical Sergeant Dana be 
reunited with Rex. Both Jamie and Rex gave their best in the fight to 
protect the ideals of liberty and courageously participated in the 
spread of democracy across the globe. The least this country can do to 
honor their service is to allow this friendship to continue.

                          ____________________