H.C.R. 14

1

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING
2 AMERICA'S MILITARY WAR DOGS
3 2005 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Sponsor: Steven R. Mascaro
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor expresses gratitude for
10 the service of war dogs and their handlers during wartime.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This resolution:
13 . commends the efforts of war dogs and the many courageous and heroic
14 accomplishments of the combat veteran dog handlers that have occurred throughout
15 the nation's military history; and
16 . offers the Legislature's and the Governor's gratitude for the heroic duties, great
17 feats, and sacrifice that war dogs have made as the American service person's
18 auxiliary and best friend.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
23 WHEREAS, over the course of the nation's military history, tens of thousands of war
24 dogs have served alongside soldiers;
25 WHEREAS, war dogs served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf
26 War, Bosnia, the Kosovo Peacekeeping operation, and the coalition operations in Afghanistan
27 and Iraq;

28 WHEREAS, these war dogs were specifically trained for jobs like scout, sentry, tracker,
29 mine and booby trap detection, tunnel, water patrol, coast guard, messenger, search and rescue,
30 explosive detection, and drug detection;
31 WHEREAS, America's military war dog teams have a long and legendary history of
32 courage, heroism, and sacrifice on thousands of foreign fields of battle and are credited with
33 saving countless numbers of lives of Americans, Allies, and noncombatants;
34 WHEREAS, war dogs have significantly reduced the enemy's capacity to sabotage or
35 destroy American equipment and property worth billions of dollars;
36 WHEREAS, war dogs work for food, water, and the love, loyalty, and bonds forged
37 with their handlers;
38 WHEREAS, not many know the special bond and sense of brotherhood that exists
39 among the combat veteran dog handlers and their dogs;
40 WHEREAS, during wartime almost all branches of the military have depended on dogs
41 and handlers;
42 WHEREAS, thousands of war dogs with names such as Stubby, Chips, Prince, Ranger,
43 Rebel, Sarge, Kelly, Tiger, Smokey, and Missy never returned from their duty in harms way;
44 WHEREAS, in the Vietnam War alone over 4,000 dogs were sent into combat with less
45 than 200 returning to the United States;
46 WHEREAS, the Vietnam Dog Handler Association has over 2,000 members from all
47 war eras and branches of the military and civilian sectors; and
48 WHEREAS, the National War Dog Team Memorial is currently being crafted for
49 permanent display in Washington, D.C.:
50 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
51 Governor concurring therein, commend the efforts of war dogs and the many courageous and
52 heroic accomplishments of the combat veteran dog handlers throughout the nation's military
53 history.
54 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor urge that the
55 service and lifesaving efforts of war dogs and their handlers be remembered by the citizens of
56 the state of Utah.
57 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor offer their
58 gratitude for the heroic duties, great feats, and sacrifice that war dogs have made as the

59 American service person's auxiliary and best friend.
60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Vietnam
61 Dog Handlers Association.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-4-05 6:41 AM

Based on a limited legal review, this legislation has not been determined to have a high
probability of being held unconstitutional.

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel