House Concurrent Resolution 92

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE DEDICATED AND SELFLESS SERVICE EXEMPLIFIED IN THE MILITARY CAREER OF MAJOR GENERAL HAROLD A. CROSS, ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE MISSISSIPPI NATIONAL GUARD, AND EXPRESSING APPRECIATION FOR SERVICES HE RENDERED TO THE CITIZENS OF MISSISSIPPI AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON THE OCCASION OF HIS RETIREMENT ON MAY 1, 2008.

WHEREAS, Major General Harold A. Cross, the Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, a member of the Governor’s Cabinet and Commander of the Military Department of Mississippi, that includes the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and the Mississippi State Guard, who has diligently commanded the Mississippi troops since January 2004, has announced his retirement, effective May 1, 2008; and

WHEREAS, in his capacity as Adjutant General, Major General Cross has been charged with the responsibility of organizing, training and equipping more than 13,000 citizen soldiers and airmen of the Mississippi National Guard to perform its federal and state missions, in addition to the supervision of an additional 3,000 state and federal employees; and

WHEREAS, administering and managing personnel, fiscal and legislative matters pertaining to the military department and maintaining readiness of the force, Major General Cross has exuded the confidence of a natural-born leader and exemplified a zealous and impervious commitment to the service and defense of this state and nation throughout his entire 40-year military career; and

WHEREAS, a native of Faulkner, Mississippi, his civilian, military and educational training consists of: a bachelor of arts degree in mathematics, Mississippi State University (1968); a master of business administration degree, Mississippi College (1978); Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (1978); Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama (1984); National Security Management, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. (1988); Capstone, Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C. (1998); and the National Defense University; and

WHEREAS, Major General Cross entered the Air Force after graduating from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Mississippi State University in 1968, and upon completion of pilot training at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, served as a pilot with the Tactical Air Command in various assignments in Europe and the United States from 1968 to 1972; and

WHEREAS, Major General Cross, a command pilot with more than 5,000 flying hours aboard the T-37, T-38, C-130E/H and C-141B and a combat veteran of Operation Just Cause and Desert Storm, joined the Mississippi Air National Guard as an aircraft commander in 1972, where he commanded at the flight, squadron and wing levels, and also served on the Committee of Advisors for the Air National Guard; and

WHEREAS, during his service, Major General Cross' assignments have included: undergraduate pilot training, 3646th Pilot Training Wing, Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas (Sept. 1968 - Oct. 1969); pilot and aircraft commander, 313th Military Airlift Wing, Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (Oct. 1969 - May 1972); C-130E pilot, 183rd Tactical Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field, Jackson, Mississippi (July 1972 - Nov. 1979); Operations Training Officer, 172nd Tactical Airlift Group, Thompson Field (Nov. 1979 - Oct. 1983); C-130H Pilot and Aircraft Commander, 183rd Tactical Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field (Oct. 1983 - July 1986); C-141B Instructor Pilot and Aircraft Commander, 183rd Military Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field (July 1986 - Aug. 1988); Commander, 183rd Military Airlift Squadron, Thompson Field (Aug. 1988 - Jan. 1990);
Deputy Commander for Operations, 172nd Military Airlift Group, Thompson Field (Jan. 1990 - Jan. 1991); Commander, 172nd Military Airlift Group, Thompson Field (Jan. 1991 - Oct. 1993); Director of Operations, Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard (Oct. 1993 - Nov. 1996); Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard (Nov. 1996 - Oct. 1997); Assistant Adjutant General for Air and Commander, Headquarters, Mississippi Air National Guard (Oct. 1997 - Jan. 2004); and Adjutant General, Mississippi National Guard (Jan. 2004 - May 2008); and

WHEREAS, Major General Cross' allegiance to the United States and exhibition of proven leadership aptitude has made way for his scaling the ranks of the military promotional ladder to obtain his current rank, including having received the following promotions: Second Lieutenant, August 1968; First Lieutenant, August 1971; Captain, August 1973; Major, November 1978; Lieutenant Colonel, September 1984; Colonel, March 1990; Brigadier General, March 1998; and Major General, October 1999; and

WHEREAS, for his fearlessness in combat, tactical approach in leadership and his steadfast determination of will both within and without the adversities of engaged battle, civil unrest, natural disaster and deployment of troops, Major General Cross has amassed a catalogue of awards and decorations only fitting and proper for a man of his proven quality, character and caliber, including: the Distinguished Service Medal (Air Force); Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster; Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Achievement Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with six oak leaf clusters; Combat Readiness Medal with eight oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with two service stars; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars; Armed Forces Service Medal; Humanitarian Service Medal with oak leaf cluster; Air Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon with eight oak leaf clusters; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one gold hour glass device; Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon; Air Force Training Ribbon; Kuwait Liberation Medal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Kuwait Liberation Medal, Government of Kuwait; Mississippi Magnolia Cross; Mississippi War Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Mississippi Emergency Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster; Mississippi Service School Medal with one oak leaf cluster; and the Mississippi Longevity Medal with seven oak leaf clusters; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and command the diligence and consistency in the leadership and professionalism of such noble, selfless and service-minded individuals as Major General Cross:

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 dedicated and selfless service exemplified in the military career of Major General Harold A. Cross, Adjutant General of the Mississippi National Guard, express appreciation for the services rendered to the citizens of Mississippi, congratulate him upon the occasion of his retirement on May 1, 2008, and extend heartiest wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Major General Cross and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.