MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2012 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Collins, Wilemon, Blount, Brown, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Dawkins, Doty, Fillingane, Flowers, Frazier, Gandy, Gollott, Hale, Harden, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Jones, Jordan, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, Massey, McDaniel, Montgomery, Moran, Parks, Polk, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Smith, Sojourner, Stone, Tindell, Tollison, Turner, Ward, Watson, Wiggins
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND MOURNING THE LOSS OF UNITED STATES ARMY NATIONAL GUARD SERGEANT FIRST CLASS BILLY ALBERT "BILL" SUTTON OF MOOREVILLE, MISSISSIPPI, WHO DIED ON FEBRUARY 7, 2012, IN THE URUZGAN PROVINCE OF AFGHANISTAN.
WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Billy Albert "Bill" Sutton, 42, died Tuesday, February 7, 2012, in the Uruzgan Province of Afghanistan while actively serving his country in the United States Army National Guard. Sergeant Sutton was assigned to the 223rd Engineer Battalion, 168th Engineer Brigade, Mississippi National Guard, West Point, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Sutton was born in Milton, Florida, on June 8, 1969, to Jerry Lee Sutton and Jo Ann Owens Sutton Starling. He grew up in the Baldwyn area and graduated from Baldwyn High School in 1987. He earned an associate's degree from Northeast Mississippi Community College and served four years with the United States Army, 82nd Airborne Division. By trade, he was an electrical technician and was last employed by Flexible Foam; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Sutton continued his patriotic devotion to the service of his nation by joining the Mississippi National Guard on September 5, 2002. At the time of his death, he was fulfilling his third tour of duty, the first two in Iraq and the final tour in Afghanistan. Sergeant Sutton was a Platoon Leader with the 288th Sapper Company out of Houston, Texas. A patriotic American, he was a respected and courageous military leader who always put his men before himself; and
WHEREAS, in civilian life, Bill was an avid duck hunter who raised and trained labs for duck hunting. He cherished his special dog of long-standing, "Jack." Bill was a music lover and a fan of Elvis. He was a master sharpshooter and treasured his many guns. Bill was a member of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church near Baldwyn; and
WHEREAS, a life celebration, with full military honors, was held Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Tupelo Chapel with Mississippi Adjutant General Leon Collins and Mississippi Baptist Convention President Dr. David Hamilton officiating. Sergeant Sutton was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star from the United States Army and the Magnolia Cross from the Mississippi National Guard; and
WHEREAS, his loving family includes his wife, Traci Durham Sutton of Mooreville, whom he married November 6, 1998; his son, Tyler Durham; his mother, Jo Ann Owen Sutton Starling (Elvis) of Baldwyn; his in-laws, Dan and Jennifer Loden Durham of Tupelo; his grandfather-in-law, Homer Loden of Tupelo; a brother, Danny Sutton of Milton, Florida; two half brothers: Vance Sutton of St. Amant, Louisiana; and Aaron Starling of Corinth; three half sisters: Adrian Starling of Baldwyn; Erica Culver of Oldenville, Alabama; and Cindy Starling of Baldwin; and
WHEREAS, carried by an Honor Guard from the Mississippi Army National Guard, he was buried with full military honors. Honorary pallbearers were the 288th Sapper Company members still serving in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, since the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in Iraq and Afghanistan, at least 78 soldiers or sailors with Mississippi ties have died in action. Bill was a loving husband, father and son who is counted among America's heroes, committed to our nation's safety and security. To a country, a fallen soldier means a national loss; to a community, a fallen soldier means a true hero; to a wife, child and parent, a fallen soldier means a husband, father and son who won't be coming home. 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 was 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 remember the gallant service and mourn the loss of United States Army National Guard Sergeant First Class Billy Albert "Bill" Sutton of Mooreville, Mississippi, who died on February 7, 2012, in Afghanistan, and extend the thoughts and prayers of a grateful state to his family in honor of their sacrifice and our sorrow on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Sutton and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.