House Concurrent Resolution 83

(As Adopted by House and Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING UNITED STATES SPECIAL FORCES AGENT MASTER SERGEANT JOHN BOLDUC UPON HIS RETIREMENT.

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant John Bolduc, a native of Laconia, New Hampshire, began his career of military service in June 1982, commencing basic training at Ft. Benning, Georgia, in the United States Army Airborne School; other assignments included: 3rd Infantry Division, Aschaffenburg, Germany; 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; 2nd Ranger Battalion, Ft. Lewis, Washington; and

WHEREAS, in 1992, after being reassigned to Eglin Air Force Base as Ranger Instructor at the 6th Ranger Training Battalion, he attended the highly advanced Special Forces Under Water Combat Divers Course in Key West, Florida; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Bolduc joined the U.S. Army Special Forces in 1993, attending Special Forces Medical and Language School at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, and Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, respectively, receiving his paramedic certification; and

WHEREAS, upon completing the two-year training course of the U.S. Army Special Forces, Master Sergeant Bolduc transferred to Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as Master Sergeant with the 5th Special Forces Group; and

WHEREAS, throughout his military career, Master Sergeant Bolduc has served as an advisor and has been deployed on numerous missions, including: Operation "Just Cause" in Panama; Pakistan; Kuwait; Qater; United Arab Emirates; Oman; Israel; Sinai; Egypt; Kenya; Turkey; Usbekistan; and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Bolduc, highly extolled, has received numerous awards and decorations detailing the magnitude of his service, encompassing various tabs and insignias and foreign awards, such as: the Unit Valorous Award for Operation "Just Cause"; the Meritorious Service Medal; the Joint Army Achievement Medal; the Combat Expert Infantry Badge; the Expert Infantry Badge; the Combat Divers Badge; the Expert Marksmanship Badge; the Special Forces Tab; the Ranger Tab; the Airborne Tab; and Parachutist Badges for Germany, Kuwait and Kenya; and

WHEREAS, shortly after the tragic attack on America on September 11, 2001, Master Sergeant Bolduc was deployed with other members of the 5th Special Forces Group, also known as Green Berets, to Afghanistan, assisting with directing American warplanes against Taliban targets; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Bolduc recently returned home and was greeted with a soldier's welcome by a supportive group of family and friends, including his wife of 14 years, Sherry Lyn Eppes Bolduc, a native of Houston, Texas, and 13-year-old daughter, Holly Marissa Bolduc; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to recognize and pay special tribute to such outstanding soldiers as Master Sergeant John Bolduc, who devoted over 20 years of his life to serving the people of this nation and world through the United States Armed Forces:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Master Sergeant John Bolduc, upon his retirement from the United States Army, express to him our most hospitable welcome upon moving to Waynesboro, Mississippi, and extend our heartiest wishes for success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Master Sergeant John Bolduc and members of the Capitol Press Corps.