Proud Warrior TSgt Jamie Dana: Eagle Chapter Air Force Security Forces Association

Eagle Chapter

Air Force

Security Forces Association


Proud Warrior TSgt Jamie Dana:

	On June 25, 2005, TSgt Dana and her military working dog (MWD), Rex, were on patrol in Southwest Asia when her vehicle made contact with an improvised explosive device (IED). She sustained serious injuries and was the most severely injured of the other passengers in the vehicle. TSgt Dana asked the Air Force to approve her request for adoption of Rex who also was slightly injured while on patrol with her in Iraq. The Air Force was technically prevented from honoring Jamie's request by Title 10 US Code 2583.
	The law permits military working dogs to be released but only after they are no longer useful to the Department of Defense. The Air Force and Several lawmakers lobbied on her behalf to change the law and both houses of congress approved the legislation which was signed into law on December 28, 2005 by President Bush.

	Air Force provides Rex early retirement and permits him to accompany TSgt Dana into civilian life. Photo shows retirement and adoption ceremony at Petersen Air Force Base Colorado. TSgt Dana received a certificate of adoption and a certificate of retirement for Rex. Both signed by Secretary of the Air Force, Honorable Michael Wynne, and the Air Force Chief of Staff, General T. Michael Moseley. Her squadron commander, Major Paul Cairney, presented both certificates in ceremonies at Peterson AFB Colorado. TSgt Dana is the first military working dog handler to be allowed to adopt her dog from active duty.

Purple Heart Medal

	MSNBC.com: Injured Airmen wants to Adopt Dog


	Defense Articles:

	Feb 1, 2006: Military Heroes, Families Respond to State of Union Message
	Jan 18, 2006: Handler Adopts K-9 Partner

	MSNBC News Article:

	Dec 6, 2005: An Airman, a dog and an act of Congress



	A recovering Purple Heart recipient from Peterson Air Force Base met the doctor who helped save her life in a reunion here Dec. 2. Tech. Sgt Jamie Dana, 21st Security Forces Squadron, and Rex, formerly her military working dog, were formally introduced to Maj. Paul Morton, 10th Medical Group, at a local animal sanctuary where the sergeant volunteers.	TSgt Dana was released from Walter Reed the end of September 2005 and is receiving care on an outpatient basis. The photo here shows Jamie and her husband, Mike, during a chapter visit. Mike is also a Security Forces member.

	Friday, August 12 2005, Eagle Chapter, Air Force Security Police Association, had an outstanding visit with TSgt Jamie Dana at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. Eagle Chapter representatives included the Chairman, Lee Chambers, and the Vice Chairperson, Washington DC Wing of Eagle Chapter, TSgt Jessica Pierce. TSgt Pierce is assigned to the 11th Security Forces Squadron Bolling Air Force Base Washington DC. The photo at left shows TSgt Jessica Pierce, Eagle Chapter AFSPA, (on the right), TSgt Jamie Dana, and her mom, Karen Riekossky, (on the left). During the visit, Eagle Chapter provided TSgt Dana a peace lily potted plant with get well card, a current copy of Tiger Flight, AFSPA's professional bi-monthly news journal, Eagle Flight, Eagle Chapter's bi-monthly news journal, 2005 SF Heritage Calendar, an AFSPA challenge coin, and other Eagle Chapter/AFSPA paraphernalia. Eagle Chapter also has delivered all letters, cards, and checks that have been provided to date. TSgt Dana was experiencing some discomfort with pain during our visit. She was very delighted to see the cards and letters and to hear about her popularity. On behalf of Jamie and her family, we thank all for your prayers and generous gifts. Due to your support, we were able to really brighten her day!

	Tech Sergeant Jamie Dana and K-9 Rex visit with President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush. TSgt Dana and Rex were guest of First Lady Laura Bush during the State of the Union Address.	On July 18, the Former Acting Secretary of the Air Force, Michael Dominguez, AF Chief of Staff, Gen John Jumper, and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Gerald Murray, presided over Jamie's Purple Heart Ceremony and her promotion to TSgt pinning ceremony. Other attendees at her ceremony included AFSPA Eagle Chapter members, Mr. Bill Davidson and CMSgt Dan Barber. Bill, an SES-6, is the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Air Force. CMSgt Barber is the Security Forces Manager for the 89th Security Forces Squadron, Andrews Air Force Base Maryland.

	Rep. John Murtha (right) looks on in his Capitol Hill office as Air Force security forces specialist Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana signs a picture of her and Rex, a retired military working dog, taken during Rex's adoption ceremony. Representative Murtha was instrumental in pushing through legislation which allowed Sergeant Dana to adopt Rex following their recovery from injuries they sustained while deployed to Iraq. Sergeant Dana, who is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and Rex were here to attend the State of the Union address. They wanted to thank the lawmakers who made it possible for the two to stay together as a team.	U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana sits with her military working dog, Rex during a Dec. 1interview with NBC news. Dana is the first military working dog handler to adopt her working dog from active-duty service thanks to a new defense appropriations bill. She is a military working dog handler with the 21st Security Forces Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. U.S. Air Force photo

	Sen. John Warner, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, meets Rex, a retired military working dog, Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana, Rex's handler, and Staff Sgt. Michael Dana Jan. 31. Senator Warner was instrumental in pushing through legislation which allowed Sergeant Jamie Dana to adopt Rex following their recovery from injuries they sustained while deployed to Iraq as a military working dog team. Sergeant Jamie Dana, her husband and Rex visited Capitol Hill to thank the members of Congress and Air Force leaders who helped her adopt Rex and to attend President Bush's State of the Union address. The Airmen are both security forces specialists from Peterson Air Force Base, Colo	Rex, a retired military working dog, gets some exercise on Capitol Hill on Jan. 31. Rex and Air Force security forces specialist Tech. Sgt. Jamie Dana were here to visit with Sen. John Warner, Rep. John Murtha and Rep. John Peterson, who were all instrumental in pushing through legislation which allowed Jamie Dana to adopt Rex following their recovery from injuries they sustained while deployed to Iraq. Sergeant Jamie Dana, who is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., and Rex were here to attend the State of the Union address. They took the opportunity to thank the lawmakers who made it possible for the two to stay together as a team.

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