MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Montgomery, Burton, Butler (38th), Clarke, Collins, Davis, Dearing, Fillingane, Frazier, Jackson (32nd), King, McDaniel, Watson
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE OF SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT MARK HASKIN EATON OF TAYLORSVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS LOST IN ACTION ON AUGUST 13, 1971, WHILE ENGAGED WITH ENEMY TROOPS DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.
WHEREAS, Mark Haskin Eaton, a resident of Taylorsville, Smith County, Mississippi, was lost in action on August 13, 1971, in the service of his country while engaging hostile forces in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Mark Haskin Eaton was a member of the elite Army Special Forces assigned to the Military Advisory Command Vietnam (MACV) and Studies and Observation Group (SOG) wherein he distinguished himself as an exemplary soldier receiving the Silver Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star with "V", Purple Heart, National Defense Award, Vietnam Service Badge and Vietnam Campaign Ribbon. Mark Haskin Eaton was a credit to his country, state, county and hometown; and
WHEREAS, Mark was not an average Army recruit. He excelled through his hard work and diligence to become a member of the Army Airborne. All members of this fraternity are proud and aggressive spirits, full of self-confidence and eager to prove their worth. Very stringent qualifications were required for Mark to further become an associate of the Army's elite Special Forces, entailing approximately one year of rigorous training. His subsequent assignment in the Military Advisory Command is extended to only a small percentage of individuals who try for these exalted positions. They are the "cream of the crop." Mark H. Eaton was one of those; and
WHEREAS, Mark Haskin Eaton was assigned to Army Special Forces, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where soldiers are taught tactical skills, leadership skills, physical fitness, motivation, the ability to cope with stress, map reading, land navigation, survival air operations, special operations, general subjects and small unit tactics. All team members go through 3 weeks of Survival Training, and each team member must be proficient in each of these subjects; and
WHEREAS, Mark's assignments were classified Top Secret and beyond. He was a member of the Military Advisory Command, Vietnam, Studies and Observation Group (MACV SOG). They were declassified in April 2001, when his unit was presented the Presidential Unit Citation by President George W. Bush. Mark's unit was the most classified operational command the military had during the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, his first assignment was to the Military Advisory Command Vietnam (MACV), Studies and Observation Group (SOG), in the Psychological Warfare Section Task Force 1-AE. The Command Control North (CCN), Mark's unit, was the most secret commando unit of the Vietnam War. Everything he did for the military was officially denied. When the men came home, they could not even tell their wives they operated behind enemy lines in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos such as the Ho Chi Minh Trail and North Vietnam supply lines through countries that bordered South Vietnam. They took the war to where the enemy lived, to get at his sanctuary, making him react, taking away his safe and secure environment; and
WHEREAS, the following is from the citation on the Certificate for his Silver Star. It provides a summary of the circumstances showing how Mark was lost in action:
"For gallantry in action while engaged in military operation involving a conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam: Sergeant Eaton distinguished himself on 13 August 1971, while serving as Assistant Team Leader of a small reconnaissance team operating deep within enemy-controlled territory. In the early morning, the team hastily ambushed a superior sized enemy force that had been sweeping the area. Sergeant Eaton immediately began placing a heavy volume of CAR-15 fire on the advancing force, inflicting heavy casualties on them. The enemy then regrouped and aggressively assaulted the reconnaissance team's position, utilizing small arms, hand grenades, automatic weapons, rocket propelled grenades and B-40 rockets. Valiantly, Sergeant Eaton rallied his team, while repeatedly exposing himself to a hail of hostile fire in order to direct the defense of the team's position. Again, he inflicted heavy losses on the enemy by returning a deadly volume of CAR-15 fire, thwarting the enemy assault until he was mortally wounded. At the cost of his life, Sergeant Eaton's gallantry in action was in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflects great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army"; and
WHEREAS, his team leader accompanied Mark's body back to Taylorsville. Since Mark's activities were highly classified at the time, little information could be given concerning his demise; and
WHEREAS, Mark Haskin Eaton's biggest and greatest achievement was the ultimate sacrifice he willingly made by giving his life in defense of his country. There was nothing greater he could do. The blood of our fighting forces won our country, founded on the principles of God-given rights and freedoms. We, the living, have a moral obligation to honor those who gave their lives so we can be free to live as we choose:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby remember the gallant service of Special Forces Sergeant Mark Haskin Eaton of Taylorsville, Mississippi, who was lost in action on August 13, 1971, while engaged with enemy troops during the Vietnam War, and with great humility extend the thanks of a grateful state to his surviving family for his service as a guardian of civilization as we know it today.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Eaton, forwarded to the Smith County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Aldermen of Taylorsville and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.