Bill Text: MS SC512 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend life of Philippine casualty United States Army Special Forces Sergeant 1st Class Christopher Shaw of Natchez, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-01-14 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC512 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-SC512-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Dearing, Butler, Blount, Browning, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Fillingane, Frazier, Hopson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), McDaniel, Mettetal, Moffatt, Montgomery, Powell, Simmons, Stone, Ward, Watson, Wilemon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 512
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIAL FORCES SERGEANT 1ST CLASS CHRISTOPHER D. SHAW OF NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS LOST IN ACTION ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2009, IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, United States Army Special Forces Sergeant 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw, age 37, of Natchez, Mississippi, was one of two Special Forces soldiers lost in action on September 29, 2009, in the Philippine Islands by a roadside bomb planted by al-Qaida-linked militants. They were the first American troops to die in an attack in the Philippines in seven years. Sergeant 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw was on his second deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on Jolo Island. He also was a veteran of the Iraq War; and
WHEREAS, the soldiers had been working on a school construction project on Jolo Island, a poor, predominantly Muslim region where Americans have been providing combat training and weapons to Filipino troops battling Abu Sayyaf militants. The United States Embassy said in a statement that the soldiers' vehicle hit an improvised explosive device while they were conducting a resupply mission for the school construction project; and
WHEREAS, with clarity that seemed to stretch up to the overcast skies, the staccato of the three volley salute followed by the mournful notes of "Taps" echoed across the Natchez National Cemetery on Wednesday, October 14, 2009, as friends and family gathered to say goodbye to Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Shaw. A private memorial service was conducted at the Natchez Convention Center Wednesday morning, and he was buried at the Natchez National Cemetery following a closed military service there. The Army Honor Guard stood at attention and Shaw's family was presented with the military medals he was posthumously awarded. The posthumous awards included the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and
WHEREAS, in a statement from the United States Army Special Forces Command, Shaw's family described him as a "husband, father, son, brother and uncle. Chris was a man who deeply loved his family and believed that he was making a difference in the fight against terror. Sergeant Shaw was a cross-country track star at Natchez High School, one of the best stars ever at the school"; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Shaw enlisted in the United States Army Reserve in 1994 while attending Texas Southern University in Houston on a track and field scholarship and, in May 1995, joined the active-duty Army. Shaw holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in History from Thomas Edison State College in Trenton, New Jersey. His awards and decorations include Meritorious Service Medals, the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medals, Army Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Meritorious Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Shaw earned the Special Forces tab, Ranger tab and the Parachutist Badge; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. 1st Class Shaw leaves to cherish his memories a loving wife, Attina Shaw; children, Darian Shaw, Erielle Smith, Jalyn Smith, Dante Shaw and Cydney Shaw, all of Fort Lewis, Washington; his mother and stepfather Willie Felton of Chicago and his father, of Port Wentworth, Georgia; two brothers, Orlando Shaw of Chicago, and Maurey Owens of Jackson; two sisters, Kenya Shaw of Chicago, and Gwen Owens of Atlanta; mother- and father-in-law, the Reverend and Mrs. Larry Wright, Sr.; and a number of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, although Operation Enduring Freedom is generally thought to refer to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, it also includes operation in the Philippines and parts of Africa. An estimated 600 United States troops are stationed in the Philippines, mostly in the southern front lines of the Philippine military's operations against terrorists; and
WHEREAS, since operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan and in the Philippines, at least 70 soldiers or sailors with Mississippi ties have died in action; and
WHEREAS, Christopher Shaw was a loving father, husband 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 child, a fallen soldier means a father 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 commend the life of United States Army Special Forces Sergeant 1st Class Christopher D. Shaw of Natchez, Mississippi, who was lost in action on September 29, 2009, in the Philippine Islands, and extend the thoughts and prayers of the Legislature to his family and our sorrow on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Shaw and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
