Commending the performance of the Special Operations Forces and a military working dog in the eradication of the terrorist leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria

H. RES. 678

Commending the performance of the Special Operations Forces and a military working dog in the eradication of the terrorist leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 1, 2019

Mr. Estes submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services

**RESOLUTION**

Commending the performance of the Special Operations Forces and a military working dog in the eradication of the terrorist leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

Whereas, on October 26, 2019, members of the Special Operations Forces successfully raided the compound of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi;

Whereas al-Baghdadi founded the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, one of the most depraved terrorist enemies of the United States;

Whereas a military working dog, assisted members of the Armed Forces in Syria’s Idlib Province;

Whereas members of the Armed Forces, assisted by the military working dog, located al-Baghdadi as he hid in a tunnel wearing a suicide vest;

Whereas al-Baghdadi detonated his vest, killing himself and injuring the military working dog who was injured by exposed, live electrical cables in the tunnel;

Whereas the military working dog swiftly returned to duty;

Whereas the Armed Forces officially began using military working dogs in 1942;

Whereas the most famous dog of World War II, Chips, received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for capturing a machine gun nest during the invasion of Sicily; and

Whereas the role of military working dogs grew more valuable throughout the Korean War and the Vietnam War and remains an instrumental component of the military: Now, therefore, be it

_Resolved,_ That the House of Representatives—

(1) recognizes the immeasurable value of military working dogs;

(2) honors the military working dog assigned to the raid of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi for assisting in the elimination of an enemy of the United States from the world; and

(3) honors and celebrates the actions of the Special Operations Forces of the United States on October 26, 2019.