MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Little, Gordon, Clarke, Jackson (15th), Hyde-Smith, Burton, Bryan, Lee (47th), Cuevas, Albritton, Morgan, Posey, Dearing, Hewes, Michel, Brown, Doxey, Chamberlin, Tollison, King, Chaney, Wilemon, Huggins, Flowers, Frazier, Mettetal, Carmichael, Butler, Walls, Thames, Lee (35th), Browning, Kirby, Thomas, Harvey, Williamson, Dawkins, Pickering, Jordan, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Harden, Nunnelee, Moffatt, Ross, Robertson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING ALL MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS SERVING THE UNITED STATES, BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
WHEREAS, the United States’ Military is in the process of engaging in the war against terrorism both at home and overseas, which includes hundreds of Mississippi Guardsmen; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi National Guard, upon receiving only a few days’ notice in most cases, has embarked upon both missions to secure and preserve peace and to protect the lives and interests of all Americans, thus exhibiting the high caliber and readiness of our State’s troops; and
WHEREAS, after receiving orders from President George W. Bush, acting in his official capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the United States Military, and from Governor Ronnie Musgrove, acting in his official capacity as Commander in Chief of the Mississippi National Guard, and from Major General James H. Lipscomb III, acting in his official capacity as Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, has placed thousands of Mississippians on active duty to defend this great country; and
WHEREAS, 485 members of Task Force Rifles, headquartered in McComb, Mississippi, and composed of soldiers from across the State of Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad, and successfully completed a tour of duty in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and
WHEREAS, 83 members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, headquartered in Elliot, Mississippi, were called to active service to defeat the Taliban regime in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, 109 members of the 114th Military Police Company, headquartered in Clinton, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad, successfully completing a tour of duty at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and subsequently recalled to serve at Fort Hood, Texas; and
WHEREAS, 17 members of the 220th Finance Detachment, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called into active service serving in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and
WHEREAS, 29 members of the 210th Finance Battalion and 19 members of the 230th Finance Detachment, both headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called to active service to provide finance support at Fort Hood, Texas; and
WHEREAS, 45 members of the 31st Rear Operations Center, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called into active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 146 members of the 113th Military Police Company, headquartered in Brandon, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad, and successfully completed a tour of duty in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Uzbekistan. The unit is the most mobilized unit in the Army National Guard over the past ten years; and
WHEREAS, 22 pilots of Company D, 159th Aviation Detachment, headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad, successfully completing several missions to include the operation which resulted in the deaths of Odai and Qusai Hussein; and
WHEREAS, 647 members of the 223rd Engineer Battalion, headquartered in West Point, Mississippi, with six other locations to include Aberdeen, Calhoun City, Bruce, Charleston, Webb, and Clarksdale, were called to active duty to serve abroad. This unit is known for its worldwide operations both military and humanitarian; and
WHEREAS, 191 members of the 2nd Battalion, 20th Special Forces Group, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit successfully conducted approximately 1,000 combat missions in Afghanistan resulting in the death or capture of more than 500 Al Qaeda operatives; and
WHEREAS, 17 members of Special Operations Detachment South, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 6 members of Company K, 185th Aviation, headquartered at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, with a detachment in Southaven, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 7 members of Company I, 185th Aviation, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, were called to active duty to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 120 members of the 168th Engineer Group, headquartered in Vicksburg, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit is the higher headquarters and parent unit for the 223rd Engineer Battalion and the 890th Engineer Battalion; and
WHEREAS, 650 members of the 890th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, with seven other locations to include Picayune, Pascagoula, Lumberton, Columbia, Wiggins, Purvis, and Richton, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit is also known for its worldwide operations, both military and humanitarian; and
WHEREAS, 71 members of the 1108th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 182 members of the 367th Maintenance Company, headquartered in Philadelphia, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit deployed with and is providing support for the newly formed Stryker Brigade Combat Team based out of Fort Lewis, Washington; and
WHEREAS, 125 members of the 114th Area Support Group, headquartered in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 55 members of the 298th Corps Support Battalion, headquartered in Philadelphia, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 24 members of the 1st Cavalry Division’s Rear Operations Center, headquartered in Tupelo, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit is one of only six Army National Guard units nationwide which is directly affiliated with an active component division; and
WHEREAS, 57 members of the 112th Military Police Battalion, headquartered in Canton, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit was previously recognized for its distinguished service in Operation Desert Storm; and
WHEREAS, 24 members of the 114th Army Liaison Team, headquartered in Greenville, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 143 members of Company G, 185th Aviation, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, were called to active duty to serve abroad. These pilots fly the Chinook aircraft, the Army’s premier cargo aircraft; and
WHEREAS, 84 members of the 185th Aviation Group, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad. This unit holds the distinction of commanding the largest National Guard aviation task force ever deployed overseas; and
WHEREAS, 62 members of the Mississippi Air National Guard’s, 255th Air Control Squadron, headquartered in Gulfport, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 500 members of the Mississippi Air National Guard, 172ndAirlift Wing, headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 500 members of the Mississippi Air National Guard, 186th Air Refueling Wing, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi, were called to active service to serve abroad; and
WHEREAS, 75 soldiers made up of various units of the Mississippi National Guard, were called to active duty in the State of Mississippi with a security mission at seven airports statewide; and
WHEREAS, 45 soldiers from units within the 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry, headquartered in McComb, Mississippi, were called to active duty in the State of Mississippi with a security mission at five Mississippi ports as well as the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Facility; and
WHEREAS, 177 soldiers, known as Task Force Falcon, made up of various units of the Mississippi National Guard, have been mobilized and are serving on active duty in the State of Mississippi with a security mission at Columbus Air Force Base, Keesler Air Force Base, and the Mississippi Air National Guard Bases at Jackson and Meridian; and
WHEREAS, since September 11, 2001, more than 5,000 soldiers and airmen of the Mississippi National Guard have been called to active service in defense of our nation’s freedom. This constitutes the largest overseas deployment of the Mississippi National Guard since the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, the dedication of the men and women of the Mississippi National Guard in providing valuable assistance to the United States Military, has helped instill confidence in the general public that they are committed to this nation’s security; and
WHEREAS, Major General James H. Lipscomb III, has guided and commanded the units of the Mississippi National Guard in military mobilizations and state active duties to include hurricanes, tropical storms, tornados, security at seven airports, five river and sea ports, and the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Facility in the State of Mississippi. His leadership and dedication are known throughout the military of the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Legislature finds it most appropriate to recognize and commend the diligence of these outstanding Mississippians for the devotion to their state and nation to secure and insure peace for all:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and declare our great pride in all Mississippi National Guard personnel serving the United States both domestically and abroad, and we pray for the quick and successful conclusion of their important mission and for their safe return home.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the commanding officers of each mentioned organization, the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard and be made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.