MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2003 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Harvey, Burton, Carmichael, Dearing, Frazier, Furniss, Smith, Tollison, White
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MAJOR GENERAL BUFORD "BUFF" BLOUNT III, COMMANDER OF THE 3RD INFANTRY MECHANIZED DIVISION DEPLOYED IN KUWAIT.
WHEREAS, Jefferson Davis County is closely linked to the pending war in Kuwait through Major General Buford "Buff" Blount III, Commanding Officer of the 3rd Infantry Mechanized Division, a Two Star General with 18 helicopters, 200 tanks, 250 Bradley Fighting Vehicles and thousands of other vehicles under his command, who is also the son of Mayor and Mrs. Buford Blount of Bassfield, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, the 31-year veteran, who comes home to Bassfield, Mississippi, for holidays and visits with his family, has over 19,000 troops at his disposal waiting for orders from the President; and
WHEREAS, Major General Blount is Commander of a new kind of Army which sports a mobile command unit hermetically sealed against chemical attacks with computer screens displaying the locations of all his units. Satellite imagery and a stream of intelligence from every U.S. agency will keep the commander in touch with everyone, even while cruising at 30 mph; and
WHEREAS, his 3rd Division and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force are positioned to breach Iraq's southern defenses, likely becoming the first ground units to push straight across the border, if the command to move were to come from Washington; and
WHEREAS, Major General Blount was recently interviewed by Diane Sawyer of "Good Morning America"; and
WHEREAS, Major General Blount was born in Texas, where Mayor and Mrs. Blount were stationed at the time. Mayor Blount is a retired Air Force Colonel, and has served as Mayor of Bassfield, Mississippi, for 25 years; and
WHEREAS, Major General Blount graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and was commissioned as Armor Officer in 1971. He lived in Bassfield during his time at USM. He is a graduate of the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, the United States Army Command and General Staff College, and the United States Naval War College where he earned a Master of Science degree in National Security and Strategic Studies; and
WHEREAS, his awards include the Legion of Merit (with Oak Leaf Cluster), Meritorious Service Medal (with six Oak Leaf Clusters) and the Army Commendation Medal (with two Oak Leaf Clusters); and
WHEREAS, he is married to the former Anita Barr of Collins. They have two daughters and one grandson; and
WHEREAS, it is with pride and humility that we recognize the sacrifice and dedicated military service of this officer from a Mississippi family with deep military roots, whose command brings honor to his branch of the service, his country, his community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do commend Major General Buford "Buff" Blount III, Commander of the 3rd Infantry Mechanized Division, and extend our prayers to him and his troops as they are deployed in the Persian Gulf Region for military action.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to General Blount and his family at appropriate ceremonies and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.