Bill Text: MS SC636 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commend life of Afghanistan casualty United States Army Staff Sergeant William Seth Ricketts of Glen, Mississippi.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-15 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC636 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-SC636-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Powell, Albritton, Baria, Blount, Brown, Browning, Bryan, Burton, Butler, Carmichael, Chassaniol, Clarke, Davis, Dawkins, Dearing, Dickerson, Fillingane, Flowers, Frazier, Gollott, Gordon, Harden, Hewes, Hopson, Horhn, Hudson, Hyde-Smith, Jackson (11th), Jackson (15th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, Jordan, King, Kirby, Lee (35th), Lee (47th), McDaniel, Mettetal, Michel, Moffatt, Montgomery, Nunnelee, Simmons, Stone, Tollison, Turner, Walls, Ward, Watson, Wilemon, Yancey
Senate Concurrent Resolution 636
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REMEMBERING THE GALLANT SERVICE AND COMMENDING THE LIFE OF UNITED STATES ARMY STAFF SERGEANT WILLIAM S. "SETH" RICKETTS OF THE GLEN COMMUNITY NEAR CORINTH, MISSISSIPPI, WHO WAS LOST IN ACTION ON FEBRUARY 27, 2010, IN WESTERN AFGHANISTAN AND EXPRESSING THE SYMPATHY OF THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, United States Army Staff Sergeant William S. "Seth" Ricketts, 27, of the Town of Glen near Corinth, Mississippi, was lost in action in Western Afghanistan while conducting a dismounted patrol in Badghis Province. Sergeant Ricketts died Saturday, February 27, 2010, at Bala Murghab, Afghanistan, of "wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire"; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Ricketts was assigned to the Company B, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, "Staff Sergeant William 'Seth' Ricketts was a man with great values, dedication and love like no other for his family and country," said 1st Lieutenant Christopher Kirchner, Ricketts' platoon leader. "This was his fifth tour of duty while serving in 'Battle Company' (B Company) in support of the War on Terror, and he was effective as a soldier, a leader and a friend. I feel honored and privileged to have served with this true warrior. Battle Company will continue to honor his memory on and off the battlefield"; and
WHEREAS, Ricketts enlisted in the Army as an Infantry man in February 2002. He attended One Station Unit Training and Basic Airborne School at Ft. Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of his training, Ricketts reported to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Glen and the City of Corinth is grieving the loss of this young hero. Carried by an Army Honor Guard, he returned to the family he loved and to his hometown and was buried with full military honors at Corinth National Cemetery on Monday, March 8, 2010; and
WHEREAS, Bill Ricketts, Sergeant Ricketts' father, said his son's Afghanistan tour was his fifth, the soldier had previously served two tours in Iraq and this was his third tour in Afghanistan. "He wanted to be in the military since he was 9 years old and began talking to a recruiter," said his father. "He signed up and came home and said he was going to protect his country. He would rather take the fight to their soil." Sergeant Ricketts is the father of two boys, 3-year-old Aiden and 10-month-old Cullen. His third child is due this summer, soon after he was scheduled to come home; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Ricketts' awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with a Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two Campaign Stars, the Iraqi Campaign Medal with three Campaign Stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Parachutist Badge with Combat Star; and
WHEREAS, Ricketts was a native of Alcorn County and was a 2000 graduate of Alcorn Central High School, where he participated in the High School Band. Sergeant Ricketts leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Rosie Jones Ricketts; two sons, Aiden, 3, and Cullen, 10 months; his parents, Bill and Sandi Ricketts of Glen; siblings, Tiffany Ricketts Sneed and Benjamin Ricketts of Glen; grandparents, Bill and Frankie Ricketts of Kossuth; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Warren and Vicki Jones of Corinth; sisters-in-law, Katie Jones Davis and Sallie Jones; and brother-in-law, John Stuart Jones of Corinth; and
WHEREAS, since operations began in Iraq and Afghanistan, at least 71 soldiers or sailors with Mississippi ties have died in action; and
WHEREAS, Seth Ricketts 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 Staff Sergeant William S. "Seth" Ricketts of Glen, Mississippi, who was lost in action on February 27, 2010, in Western Afghanistan, and extend the thoughts and prayers of a grateful state to his family and our sorrow on his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Sergeant Ricketts and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.
