House Concurrent Resolution 58

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND HONORING COLONEL STANLEY A. MARTIN UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Colonel Stanley A. Martin, Commander for the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 172nd Airlift Wing, Thompson Field, in Jackson, Mississippi, is retiring after providing over three decades of selfless and meritorious service to the United States as a member of the nation's elite fraternity of Armed Forces personnel; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Martin joined the Mississippi Air National Guard in July 1984, as an Aeromedical Evacuation Technician, and he was commissioned in May 1992, as a Flight Nurse in the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron; and

WHEREAS, dedicated to excellence, Colonel Martin is a 1985 graduate of the Medical Service Specialist School at Shepard Air Force Base (AFB), Texas, and he attended Hinds Community College, where he earned his associate's degree in applied science, and he also completed the flight nurse course, at Brooks AFB, Texas, from 1992 through 1993, completed Air Command and Staff College in 2007, and completed Air War College in 2013, both at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and in 2015, he received a bachelor of science degree in nursing, from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, in Jackson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, a Chief flight nurse with more than 1,600 hours in the C-130, KC-135, C-141C, C-21A and C-17A, Colonel Martin participated in Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, Inherent Resolve and Freedom's Sentinel, and prior to the command of the 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, he served as the Officer In Charge of the Equipment Section, Officer In Charge of Force Development, Assistant Chief Nurse, and Deputy Commander in the squadron; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Martin is responsible for the wartime readiness of unit members who deploy in support of the movement of the injured or severely wounded as tasked by the President of the United States of America or the Governor of the State of Mississippi, and while serving as a traditional guardsman, Colonel Martin is a Registered Nurse, providing conscious sedation and patient care to patients having procedures in the Interventional Radiology Department, at the states only Level One hospital; and

WHEREAS, during his outstanding and distinguished career, Colonel Martin received the following honors and awards: Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Air Force Commendation Medal with C device and one silver oak leaf cluster; Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Meritorious Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters; AF Outstanding Unit Award with Valor Device with bronze V and two silver oak leaf clusters; Combat Readiness Medal with two silver oak leaf clusters; Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service medal with two silver oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with bronze star; Southwest Asia Service Medal with two bronze stars;

Afghanistan Campaign Medal with one bronze star; Iraq Campaign Medal with one bronze star; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal; AF Overseas Ribbon Short with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon with Gold Border and two oak leaf clusters; AF Longevity Service with one silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with gold hourglass and 4 'M' Devices; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon with bronze star; AF Training Ribbon;

NATO Medal with two bronze stars; Kuwait Liberation Medal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Kuwait Liberation Medal Government of Kuwait; Louisiana Emergency Service Medal; Mississippi Magnolia Medal;

Mississippi Medal of Efficiency; Mississippi War Medal; Mississippi Emergency Service Medal; Mississippi Service School Medal; and the Mississippi Longevity Medal with one silver oak leaf cluster and two bronze oak leaf clusters; and

WHEREAS, Colonel Martin is also a member of the National Guard Association of the United States and the National Guard Association of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, as a man of great character who bleeds red, white and blue, Colonel Martin has sacrificed countless hours away from his family in fulfillment of the needs of this country, as he was deployed to the Crisis Action Team at Andrews following 9/11, and was instrumental in coordinating a high profile flight in which a crew from the 183AES was tasked to provide any needed care for terrorist prisoners being transported to Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize the exceptional career and accomplishments of such an immensely gallant individual as Colonel Martin, whose service to the United States has culminated in a long and distinguished career and reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the distinguished and meritorious service of Colonel Stanley A. Martin, congratulate him upon the occasion of his retirement, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors while enjoying the lighter years of life.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Colonel Stanley A. Martin and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.