SR0596 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0596 LRB094 19500 HSS 55334 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death in combat in Afghanistan of Sergeant First Class James Scott Ochsner of Waukegan on November 15, 2005; and

WHEREAS, He was born at Great Lakes Naval Base in May of 1969; he attended Cook Magnet School, St. Anastasia Grammar School, and St. Joseph High School in Kenosha, Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, He entered the U.S. Army in July of 1987; his first enlistment was as an artilleryman in Germany from 1987 to 1990; at the end of that enlistment, he reenlisted for the infantry; he spent 1990 to 1999 with the famous 325th and 505th Parachute Infantry Regiments of the 82nd Airborne Division; and

WHEREAS, With the exception of a tour to Korea in 1997 as part of the United Nations Security Force, Sergeant Ochsner led soldiers all over the world as part of America's Guard of Honor, including combat duty in the Arabian Peninsula during Desert Storm and peace keeping duty in the Sinai Desert as part of the multi-national forces; and

WHEREAS, In 1999, Sergeant Ochsner left the 82nd Airborne Division and volunteered for the Special Forces; he completed his training in 2001 as a Special Forces Communications Sergeant and was assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne); he deployed four times to Afghanistan; his final assignment was as the Operations and Intelligence Sergeant for ODA344, where he was one of the best advanced Special Operations Trained Operators conducting missions in Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, His awards are numerous and include the Bronze Star Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Commendations Medal with "V" Device, the Army Commendation Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Achievement Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with 4 Knots, the National Defense Service Medal 2NS Award, the Overseas Service Ribbon with Numeral 2, the Combat Infantryman Badge 2nd Award, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Air Assault Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Special Forces TAB; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Sergeant First Class James Scott Ochsner has been deeply felt by many, especially wife, Ann (Marion); his daughter, Meagan; his son, Nicholas; his parents, Robert and Sandra; his brother, Master Sergeant Robert L. Ochsner; and his sister, Jennifer; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Sergeant First Class James Scott Ochsner, and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

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

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest condolences.