Senate Concurrent Resolution 514

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE GALLANT SERVICE OF SERGEANT FIRST CLASS ELLIS MARTIN OF SUMMIT, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED IN IRAQ AND WAS AWARDED THE ARMY'S PURPLE HEART DECORATION.

WHEREAS, on May 24, 2005, family members and friends joined military officials to welcome home Sergeant First Class Ellis Martin of Summit, Mississippi, a member of the Army National Guard's 155th Brigade Combat Team, who was critically wounded more than two months ago in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Martin was escorted into the Jackson International Airport terminal by Major General Harold Cross, Adjutant General for the Mississippi Army National Guard; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Martin and Sergeant Robert Shane Pugh were injured in March 2005 when an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle 30 miles south of Baghdad. Sergeant Pugh, a Combat Medic with the 155th, was credited with helping his wounded comrade before dying; and

WHEREAS, Sergeant Martin passed through an Honor Guard of soldiers at the airport in a motorized wheelchair before being presented the Purple Heart by General Cross, who called Martin a "great warrior." His wife, Stephanie, and Amanda Pugh, wife of his fallen comrade, were at his side; and

WHEREAS, General Cross said earlier that Martin needed 52 units of blood while en route from Iraq to a hospital in Germany. Martin later underwent several surgeries at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., but came home to Mississippi to see his 18-year-old daughter graduate from high school; and

WHEREAS, the 155th Brigade Combat Team consists of nearly 3,500 soldiers from Mississippi, Arkansas and Vermont. The soldiers trained at Camp Shelby near Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and deployed in January; and

WHEREAS, Mississippians understand the costs of conflict, because we have paid them in the past, and it is with great pride and humility that we recognize the heroic action of this great American and Mississippian, who is the guardian of civilization as we know it today:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the gallant service of Sergeant First Class Ellis Martin of Summit, Mississippi, who was severely wounded in Iraq and was awarded the Army's Purple Heart Decoration by the President of the United States, and extend the thoughts and prayers of the Legislature to his family for his speedy recovery.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sergeant Martin and his family and be made available to the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard and the Capitol Press Corps.