House Resolution 23

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING THE VALOR AND SELFLESSNESS OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL JOHN WHITE UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT FROM THE MISSISSIPPI AIR NATIONAL GUARD AFTER 33 YEARS OF EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE.

WHEREAS, on October 1, 2017, the distinguished and patriotic Lieutenant Colonel John White retired from the Mississippi Air National Guard after 33 years of exemplary service and admirable military prowess; and

WHEREAS, Colonel White graduated from Florence High School before furthering his education at Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, engulfed by an altruistic desire to protect and defend his country, John White joined the Mississippi Air National Guard in September 1984 and went to Lackland Air Force Base for basic training and then to Sheppard Air Force Base for technical school; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, because of his unparalleled dedication to the United States of America and his courageous fight and perseverance, Mr. White became the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for the 172nd Intelligence Office, and he attended Intelligence Operations School at Goodfellow Air Force Base in Texas; and

WHEREAS, after he returned to the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mr. White was interviewed for an officer position and was accepted, so he attended the Academy of Military Science in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he was commissioned as a Lieutenant Colonel and then began serving the Mississippi Air National Guard as the Wing Intelligence Officer; and

WHEREAS, on September 11, 2001, tragedy struck the majestic soil of Lady Liberty, and because of his expertise and experience, Lieutenant Colonel White was called to the Pentagon to build the Crisis Action Team for the War on Terrorism; and

WHEREAS, immediately after his tour at the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel White was sent to Ramstein Air Base in Germany to head up the Intelligence Office for the European Strategic Inter-theater Deployment; and

WHEREAS, after he had served for a year in Germany, Lieutenant Colonel White was presidentially activated to Ramstein, Germany, where he ran the largest Intelligence Office in the Air Force, and during this intense and trying time, he made over 22 missions to Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel White was deployed to Baghram Air Base Afghanistan as the Senior Intelligence Officer in 2012, and in 2013, he was deployed to Kandahar Air Base Afghanistan as a Senior Intelligence Officer for the Wing; and

WHEREAS, when he is not training with his military unit, Lieutenant Colonel White enjoys spending time with his wife of 22 years, Penny, who has showered him with loving support throughout his career, his children, Gennifer, Olivia and Veronica, and his grandchildren, Daniel, Penelope and Everly, and he is the co-owner of Two Gun Tactical in Flowood, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and salute heroic, patriotic Mississippians, especially those such as Lieutenant Colonel John White, for his remarkable dedication and incomparable service to the United States of America and the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby recognize and commend the valor and selflessness of Lieutenant Colonel John White upon the occasion of his retirement from the Mississippi Air National Guard after 33 years of exceptional service and express sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Lieutenant Colonel John White and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.