Bill Text: NY J00959 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Honoring United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as a recipient of the Medal of Honor

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-02 - REFERRED TO FINANCE [J00959 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00959-Introduced.html

---

Senate Resolution No. 959

BY: Senator RITCHIE

        HONORING  United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis
        W. Atkins posthumously  upon  the  occasion  of  his
        designation as a recipient of the Medal of Honor

  WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services who have served valiantly and
honorably  in wars in which this country's freedom was at stake, as well
as in the preservation of peace, deserve  a  special  salute  from  this
Legislative Body; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud to honor United
States Army Staff  Sergeant  Travis  W.  Atkins  posthumously  upon  the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the Medal of Honor; and

  WHEREAS,  The  prestigious  Medal  of  Honor is the nation's highest
military honor and enshrines recipients in the history  of  our  nation;
and

  WHEREAS,  Travis  W.  Atkins  was born on December 9, 1975, in Great
Falls, Montana, where he lived for the first six years of his life;  his
family then moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he worked as a small engine
mechanic who loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile and camp; and

  WHEREAS,  On  November  9,  2000,  Travis W. Atkins proudly chose to
serve his country as a member of the United States Army; and

  WHEREAS, Upon completion of basic infantry training at Fort Benning,
Georgia, Travis W. Atkins was assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd  Battalion,
327th  Infantry  Regiment,  1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky; and

  WHEREAS, Travis W. Atkins deployed with the 101st Airborne to Kuwait
in early March of 2000 and participated in the invasion  of  Iraq  later
that month as an infantry fire team leader; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  the completion of his service requirements, Sergeant
Travis W. Atkins was honorably discharged from the United States Army in
December of 2003; and

  WHEREAS, After attending the University of Montana, Travis W. Atkins
re-enlisted in the United States Army in 2005 and was  assigned  to  the
10th  Mountain  Division  at  Fort  Drum, New York, deploying to Iraq in
August of 2006, and shortly thereafter being promoted to staff  sergeant
on May 1, 2007; and

  WHEREAS,  One  month  later,  Travis  W. Atkins was serving with the
Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd  Brigade
Combat  Team  in  Abu  Sarnak,  Iraq,  conducting  route  clearance just
southwest of Baghdad when, as truck commander in his Humvee, he  ordered
the vehicle to stop in an effort to intercept suspected insurgents; and

  WHEREAS, Travis W. Atkins approached one of the men to check him for
weapons  and  the  man  resisted,  resulting  in  a  hand-to-hand combat

engagement where Staff Sergeant Atkins realized the man  had  a  "person
borne improvised explosive device" strapped to his body; and

  WHEREAS,  Upon  realizing  the  man  was going to detonate the bomb,
Travis W.  Atkins sacrificed his own life to save his  fellow  soldiers,
grabbing  the  man  in  a  bear hug, using his body as a shield from the
imminent explosion, saving three American lives; and

  WHEREAS, The family of Travis W. Atkins was honored for his  bravery
by  President  Donald  J.  Trump  in  a  ceremony  at the White House on
Wednesday, March 27, 2019, with his family and other members of his Army
unit in attendance; and

  WHEREAS, There, Travis W. Atkins was posthumously presented with the
Medal of Honor, and lauded for  his  selfless  service  to  his  beloved
country; and

  WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which men and women like Travis W. Atkins served their country; and

  WHEREAS,  Through  his  sacrifice, Travis W. Atkins demonstrated his
love for his country and this merits forevermore, the highest respect of
this State and Nation; and

  WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be  recognized,  commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for  their  dedication  to  their  communities,  and  their Nation; now,
therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  and  remember  United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins
posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as  recipient  of  the
Medal of Honor; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Travis W. Atkins.