Bill Text: MS SC513 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Mourn the loss of Afghanistan casualty U.S. Army Reserve Master Sergeant Coater Debose of State Line, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 31-19)
Status: (Passed) 2013-01-17 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC513 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2013-SC513-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2013 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Gandy, Blount, Brown, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler (36th), Butler (38th), Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Collins, Dawkins, Doty, Fillingane, Frazier, Gollott, Hale, Harkins, Hill, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jolly, Jones, Jordan, Kirby, Lee, Longwitz, Massey, McDaniel, Montgomery, Moran, Parker, Parks, Polk, Simmons (12th), Simmons (13th), Smith, Sojourner, Stone, Tindell, Tollison, Ward, Watson, Wiggins, Wilemon
Senate Concurrent Resolution 513
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND MOURNING THE LOSS OF UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE MASTER SERGEANT COATER B. DEBOSE OF STATE LINE, MISSISSIPPI, FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN ACTION IN AFGHANISTAN ON AUGUST 19, 2012.
WHEREAS, Army Reserve Master Sergeant Coater B Debose, 55, of State Line, Mississippi, was fatally wounded Sunday, August 19, 2012, in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan from small arms fire while conducting security force assistance operations. The shooting occurred when two Afghan policemen reportedly opened fire on a group of coalition and Afghan troops. A Mississippi father and grandfather, Sergeant Debose is the second Mississippian to die by "insider attack" in Afghanistan and the 32nd of the United States and coalition forces; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Debose, a communication sergeant, was assigned to the 2nd of the 351st Infantry Regiment, 158th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East. He deployed in April 2012 to assist and train Afghan uniformed police in and around Kandahar; and
WHEREAS, Debose joined the Alabama Army National Guard in May 1983. He transferred to the Army Reserves in 2008. A veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005, Debose is also one of the older United States soldiers killed in Afghanistan. "He was 55 years old and one of the most fit soldiers we had, just a great, physically fit example for our younger soldiers," said Colonel Chris Forbes, Debose's commanding officer. "They all looked up to him, and he was never afraid to go out of his way and mentor them. He was a super solider. He was a father who loved his family and was probably one of the hardest working, most dedicated soldiers we had"; and
WHEREAS, carried by an Army Honor Guard, he returned to the family and state he loved and was buried with full military honors Tuesday, September 6, 2012, in Biloxi National Cemetery. Sergeant Debose was promoted posthumously to Master Sergeant. As relatives sat beside his casket, they were presented with five American flags, along with his Purple Heart, Bronze Star and other awarded medals. A military Memorial Service for Master Sergeant Debose was held Friday, September 7 at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center near Hattiesburg, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Debose is survived by his wife, Juanita; and children, Latravis Debose of Moss Point, Caronica Jackson of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Christopher Debose of Parris Island, South Carolina, Nekeshia Raybon of Wright Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, Ohio, and Broderick Debose of Petal, Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, since operations began in the War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan, at least 80 soldiers with Mississippi ties have died in action. Coater was a loving husband and father 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 parent or wife, a fallen soldier means a son or husband who won't be coming home. Mississippians understand the cost 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 Reserve Master Sergeant Coater B. Debose of State Line, Mississippi, from injuries sustained in action in Afghanistan on August 19, 2012, and extend our thoughts and prayers to his family in honor of their sacrifice and our sorrow on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Sergeant Debose's family and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
