HR0018 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0018 LRB098 06632 MST 36675 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Army Specialist Samuel T. Watts, who gave his life for his country while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan on May 19, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts was born on August 14, 1991, in Elmhurst to Thomas and Susan Watts; and

WHEREAS, Even as a little boy, Army Specialist Watts hoped to serve his country as a soldier; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts attended elementary and middle school at St. John Lutheran School in Wheaton, where he also attended church with his family and graduated from Wheaton North High School in 2010; he enlisted in the United States Army in the spring of 2010, while still in high school, completing his basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia, in July 2010 and joining the 508th Infantry Regiment in October 2010; and

WHEREAS, Amy Specialist Watts was a member of Wheaton North freshman football and volleyball teams, was an avid BMX rider, attended the fire science and paramedic program at the Technology Center of DuPage in Addison, and earned a prestigious award for his patriotism at Wheaton North's senior honors assembly; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts trained as an infantryman and paratrooper at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was deployed to Afghanistan on February 25, 2012, with the 82nd Airborne Division; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts served his country with pride as a member of the 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, The 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army is an elite modular airborne infantry division that was constituted in the National Army as the 82nd Division on August 5th, 1917, and was organized on August 25th, 1917, at Camp Gordon, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts was on foot patrol in the Zharay district of Kandahar province of Afghanistan on April 25, 2012, when an improvised explosive device detonated, inflicting devastating wounds upon him; and

WHEREAS, On May 16th, 2012, Army Specialist Watts was awarded the prestigious Purple Heart in a bedside ceremony, and his father, Thomas, was proud to have had the honor and privilege of pinning the medal on his son; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts was the recipient of the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Marksman Badge, and Parachutist Badge; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts was included as one of the fallen heroes honored at the DuPage County Memorial Day Ceremony on Sunday, May 27th, 2012; and

WHEREAS, Friends and family will always remember Army Specialist Watts as wanting to serve his country and help others and for his generous spirit; and

WHEREAS, Friends describe Army Specialist Watts as loyal, kind, noble, a fierce friend, funny, a truly genuine person, the world's greatest, a fighter, a true hero, an adventurous, fun-loving, and truly fearless person, and a guy you wanted on your team; and

WHEREAS, Amy Specialist Watts planned to become a fire fighter/paramedic when he returned from Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Army Specialist Watts will be fiercely missed by his loving sisters, Sarah and Abigail; his loyal brother, Andrew; his adoring parents, Thomas and Susan; and his caring grandparents, Ruth Watts and Paul J. Keehn; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Army Specialist Samuel T. Watts; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Army Specialist Watts, his patriotism, and his willingness to serve his country, which led him to making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Army Specialist Watts as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.