Aug. 11--The woman with no identity has caught the attention of thousands.

After an article appeared in The News-Sentinel on July 28, the story of Ula Banks was more than just the talk around the water cooler -- it became the subject of an international debate.

People from across the United States, and as far away as Wales, contacted the newspaper offering monetary support to help the Fort Wayne woman with no birth certificate.

The wildly popular Web site Fark.com also picked up on the story, creating a forum that sparked discussions on topics ranging from similar experiences to conspiracies by government agencies.

Read one post: "the more important question; with out (sic) a valid state id, how does she vote? in the state of indiana she couldn't. Nice way to strip away the rights of the plebeians."

The story even caught the attention of CNN, which, Banks said, is debating whether to interview her here or in New York.

"It's crazy, the attention this is getting," said Banks, 34, who lost her driver's license and has been fighting for the last six years to regain it. "I didn't realize how big of a case this is."

Banks' ordeal began in 2002 when she lost her driver's license in her boyfriend's van. Not being able to find it, she went to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for a new one, taking along the other forms of ID she had used in the past. Upon arrival, however, she found the copies of her U.S. and German birth certificates -- because she was born on a U.S. Army base abroad -- were not sufficient to get a new license.

Various government officials are now telling her she needs to prove that she is a U.S. citizen, but doing so requires paying for copies of documents with money she does not have.

Now, she's looking for any help she can get.

"I am going to get (my birth certificate). I don't care how much it takes me," Banks said.

In the beginning, Banks contacted the BMV and assorted government agencies, including the office of U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd District, for help, to no avail. After that, Banks turned to the media for help.

"I'm going to be on worldwide TV. Who do you think is going to see that?" Banks asked. The original story at www.news-sentinel.com collected more than 14,000 page views.

"My friends keep telling me there is going to be a blessing that will overwhelm you, and I think this is it."

Souder's office assigned a caseworker to Banks in October and has received at least one call from someone who wants to help her. The next step is getting copies of her father's death certificate and her mother's birth certificate so she can get a state-sealed copy of her birth certificate. But she still lacks the money to do so and the means to connect with all the people who want to help her.

But there is no discouragement in her voice. Only hope. "Now I think I went too far that I can't back out on it now," said Banks, who plans to work on a game plan this week to move her case forward.

"I've already gone too far to give up."

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Story Source: The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Ind.)