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I don't know if I've ever received as many e-mails from viewers as I did about a story I did in early December, on Air Force Tech Sergeant Jamie Dana and her bomb-sniffing dog, Rex (link). Many of the e-mailers were deeply affected by the story, and everyone wanted to be kept informed about Sgt. Dana and Rex.
Here's the background: They were on a mission in Iraq last summer when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb. Rex suffered only minor injuries but Sgt. Dana almost died. A doctor who treated her told me her pulse stopped twice, she had major internal injuries, and lost a huge amount of blood. When she regained consciousness in the hospital, her first question was whether Rex had survived.
When I interviewed her a few months later, I was astounded at how well she was doing. She walked with a cane, but was sharp as a tack mentally, had a great attitude and a wry sense of humor. She was also surprisingly vigorous -- I interviewed her in Colorado at an animal rescue facility where she was volunteering while she recovered, and we did a lot of walking in the thin mountain air. I was huffing and puffing -- she was not.
The crux of the story was that she has asked the Air Force if she could adopt Rex because, she argued, they were inseparable, and he was vital to her recovery. The Air Force top brass came to her assistance and helped get Congress to change the law so that Rex -- officially an MWD ("Military Working Dog") -- could be adopted by Sgt. Dana.
Well, Congress did change the law, President Bush signed it and Sgt. Dana adopted Rex.
And now here's the latest on the story for all those Nightly News viewers who asked to be kept up to date: Sgt. Dana and Rex are making the rounds in Washington this week, calling on members of Congress who helped them stay together. Say what you will about members of Congress, but there are a lot of people here on Capitol Hill who have a serious soft spot for wounded veterans -- and for dogs.
Read more from Chip Reid
Counting down at the White House
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A huge thanks for telling this amazing, heart-warming story . . . all of it, including the happy ending. I'm glad to see Congress, with all of its faults, did what was right in this particular situation. Best wishes to Sgt. Dana and her beloved Rex--a truly beautiful creature.
Kim Whitacre (Sent Feb 1, 2006 8:47:22 AM)
Well, there is something Bush did somewhat correct in his tenure!
Ted Spence, Seattle, WA (Sent Jan 31, 2006 11:46:36 PM)
I'm so glad that Sgt.Dana finally got her dog.
I read that in the past after the www 2 the dogs were killed, it made me sick. The men that trained and worked with these beautiful loyal animals deserved more this.
nan, Ms. (Sent Jan 31, 2006 11:09:59 PM)
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