HR1119

LRB093 22714 HSS 52394 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois learned with regret of the death in Iraq of 
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U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt of Hammond on Sunday, 
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June 27, 2004; and

 
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    WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt was assigned to Battery B, 1st 
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Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division at Fort 
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Hood in Texas; and

 
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    WHEREAS,  First Sergeant Utt was born in Chicago to Ernest 
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Utt Sr. and Mary Utt; he graduated in 1983 from Atwood-Hammond 
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High School in Illinois, where he played football and was on 
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the track team; he married Denise on February 1, 1994; and
 
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    WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt entered active duty in the U.S. 
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Army in September of 1983 as a field Artillery Cannon Crew 
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Member at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; since enlisting, his assignments 
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include Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion 75th Field Artillery in 
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Buamberg, Germany; Operation Group, Wolf Team, Fort Irwin, 
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California; 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, Buamholder, 
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Germany; Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Batteries, 2nd Battalion, 
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319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, North 
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Carolina; Operations Group, Wolf Team, Fort Irwin, California; 
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and his final assignment, Alpha and Bravo Batteries 1st 
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Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, Fort Hood, Texas; and

 
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    WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt is a graduate of the Primary 
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Leadership Development Course, the Basic Non-Commissioned 
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Officer Course, and the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers 
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Course; he also completed Airborne School, Air Assault School, 
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Jumpmaster School, Air Movement Operations, and the Observer 
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Controller Academy; during his service, he held positions 
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ranging from Section Chief (light and heavy), Gunnery Sergeant, 
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Chief of Firing Battery, and Battery First Sergeant; in 
 


 






HR1119
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LRB093 22714 HSS 52394 r




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addition, he performed the duties of an Observer Controller and 
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Assistant Operations Sergeant; and

 
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    WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt's awards include the 
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Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army 
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Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense 
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Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas 
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Service Ribbon, Superior Unit Citation, Driver's Badge 
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(wheeled and tracked), Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air 
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Assault Badge; and

 
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    WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt was a 21-year U.S. Army veteran 
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and could have left the service  to retire instead of going to 
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Iraq, but he had a strong sense of duty to the many  soldiers 
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under his command; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E. 
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Utt has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Denise 
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Utt; his father, Ernest Utt Sr.; his brother, Jordan Utt; and 
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his five children; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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mourn the passing of U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt, 
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and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and 
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all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of First Sergeant Utt 
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and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him 
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making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt as an 
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expression of our sincerest condolences.