Senate Concurrent Resolution 543

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DEDICATED MILITARY CAREER OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ROBERT D. THORNTON AND CONGRATULATING HIM IN HONOR OF HIS 25 YEARS OF SERVICE IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND THE MISSISSIPPI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD.

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Robert D. Thornton retired with over 25 years of service in the Mississippi Army National Guard on October 31, 2006. Sergeant Thornton's exemplary career was honored by a retirement ceremony on August 11, 2007, attended by distinguished members of the military. Upon his retirement, Sergeant Thornton commenced service as the Physical Security Program/Budget Manager for the Mississippi Army National Guard; and

WHEREAS, a summary of Sergeant First Class Robert D. Thornton's service is as follows: SFC Thornton enlisted in the 114th Military Police Company, Clinton, Mississippi, on January 23, 1981; from May 20, 1981, through September 9, 1981, he was assigned to Echo Company, 10th Battalion, One Station Unit Training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama; on September 9, 1981, he graduated from Military Police School and was reassigned to the 114th Military Police Company; from September 1981 through June 1984, he served in various positions to include M-60 gunner, driver and RTO for a Military Police squad; in June 1984, SFC Thornton began his AGR career with the 114th Military Police Company as the Unit Armorer/Supply Specialist; he served in this position until March 1985, when he was assigned as the Assistant Training NCO/Team Leader for 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, 114th Military Police Company; he served in this position until December 1986, when he was assigned as the Unit Supply Sergeant for the 114th Military Police Company; in September 1990, SFC Thornton was mobilized with his unit for Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm and was stationed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 1990 through May 1991; in September 1994, SFC Thornton was assigned as Readiness NCO/Rear Battle NCO for the 114th Military Police Company; in this position, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations for the 114th Military Police Company; in December 1995, SFC Thornton was mobilized with his unit for Operation Joint Endeavor and was stationed in Mannheim and Heidelberg, Germany, from December 1995 through August 1996; during this period, he was assigned as Assistant Operations NCO and was responsible for setting up the Force Protection Plan for American Soldiers and families assigned to the Mannheim/Heidelberg area; from August 1996 through February 2000, SFC Thornton was once again assigned as Readiness NCO/Rear Battle NCO for the 114th Military Police Company; in February 2000, SFC Thornton was transferred to JFH-MS as a Training NCO; his primary responsibility has been to administer the budget for annual training, and to set up and ensure troops are receiving quality training in accordance with their missions; this coordination has taken SFC Thornton to various posts in the United States, Germany, Italy and Korea; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton has completed the Primary Leadership Development Course (5th Mechanical Infantry, Ft. Polk, Louisiana), the Basic Noncommissioned Officer Course (Ft. Lee, Virginia) where he was selected as Honor Graduate, and the Advanced Noncommissioned Officer Course for Military Police (Ft. McClellan, Alabama); and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton has served on State Active Duty on three occasions. These were in support of Hurricane Elana on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1985, the Ice Storm that hit the Mississippi Delta in 1994, and Hurricane Georges on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 1999; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton was selected as the AGR Soldier of the Year for the 114th Military Police Company in 1999. He competed at the next level and was selected as the AGR Soldier of the Year for the 66th Troop Command in 1999 and was subsequently selected as AGR Soldier of the Year for Mississippi, where he went on to compete at the First Army Level; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton's awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters, the National Defense Service Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, the Humanitarian Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal (2nd Award), the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 3, the Army Service Ribbon, the Army Service Component Overseas Training Ribbon, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M and Hour Glass Device, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), and the Global War on Terrorism Ribbon. His state awards include the Mississippi Magnolia Cross, the Mississippi Commendation Medal, the Mississippi War Medal, and the Mississippi Emergency Service Medal; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton holds a Bachelor of Science in Individualized Studies with a concentration in History from Charter Oak State College in Connecticut with a minor in Criminal Justice; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Thornton is married to the former Melanie J. Russell of Crystal Springs, Mississippi. They have three sons, Drew, Chad and Jordan, and one grand-daughter, Hannah; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the outstanding career of this professional soldier who is continuing his dedicated service to a grateful state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the dedicated military career of Sergeant First Class Robert D. Thornton of Clinton, Mississippi, and congratulate him in honor of his 25 years of service in the United States Army and the Mississippi Army National Guard and as he commences his state service career with the Mississippi National Guard.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sergeant Thornton and his family, forwarded to the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.