SR0300 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of General Wayne Downing of Peoria Heights, who passed away on July 18, 2007; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing was born in Peoria on May 10, 1940; his parents were Eileen M. Weiland and F. Wayne "Bud" Downing; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing graduated from St. Cecilia School in 1954; his father was a World War II veteran who was killed in action in Germany in 1945; after graduating from Spalding High School in Peoria, he was granted a competitive appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated in June 1962 with a Bachelor's of Science degree; he was commissioned a second lieutenant following the commencement speech delivered by President John F. Kennedy; he later earned a Master's of Business Administration degree from Tulane University; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing began his 34-year career in the U.S. Army by leading soldiers in his first assignment as a platoon leader in Company B, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade in Okinawa; he then served two years with the famous 173rd in Vietnam from 1964 to 1966; he served a third year in Vietnam with the 25th Infantry Division before moving on to many assignments in infantry, armor, special operations, and joint units; he later served in the 1st Ranger Battalion in 1975 and 1976 and commanded the 2nd Ranger Battalion from 1977 to 1979; and

WHEREAS, In 1984, Wayne Downing was chosen to form and lead the 75th Ranger Regiment; under his command, the regiment grew to its highest level in 40 years by having activated an additional Ranger battalion and a regimental headquarters; the two previously existing Ranger battalions, the 2nd and 75th, and the new addition were integrated into a cohesive unit that to this day continues to work by its creed, "Rangers Lead the Way"; he was widely recognized as the father of the modern Rangers, demonstrating the organizational skill and technical refinements during this time that would have far-reaching effects on the future successes of his Rangers and of United States Special Operations Forces in general; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing was appointed as the commanding general of the Joint Special Operations command based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in November 1989; in December 1989, he commanded the joint Special Operations Forces in Panama during Operation Just Cause; during Operation Desert Storm, he commanded a joint task force of 1,200 Special Operations Forces who conducted highly effective attacks in Iraq, drastically reducing the enemy's overall ballistic missile threat; in August 1991, he took command of the United States Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg, a purview which included the nation's Ranger, Civil Affairs, Army Special Operations Aviation, Psychological Operations, and Special Operations forces; and

WHEREAS, In 1993, Wayne Downing was appointed to the rank of four-star general and assigned as commander-in-chief of the United States Special Operations Command; in this final active duty command, he led the nation's 46,000 Special Operations soldiers, sailors, and airmen; highly decorated by his nation and many of its allies, he retired from active duty in 1996; and

WHEREAS, Following his retirement, Wayne Downing was appointed by the President to lead a 40-person task force to investigate the 1996 terrorist attack on the U.S. base at Khobar Towers in Saudi Arabia; continuing his lifetime of public service, he then served as a member of the National Commission on Terrorism, known as the Bremer Commission, from 1999 to 2000, where he assisted in the examination of the terrorist threat to the United States and found a need for an aggressive strategy on combating terrorism; in 2001, General Downing served the White House as National Director and Deputy National Security Advisor for Combating Terrorism, where he was responsible for the close coordination between military, diplomatic, intelligence, law enforcement, and financial operations of our nation's war on terror and was responsible for developing and executing a strategy that integrated all elements of national power; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing was chairman and founder of the Combating Terrorism Center at the United States Military Academy at West Point, a capacity in which he conducted the Terrorism Studies Seminar; as the Distinguished Chair, he directed the center's research activities in combating terrorism; in May 2006, the United States Military Academy Association of Graduates honored General Downing with its Distinguished Graduate Award in recognition of his lifetime of service to the United States of America as a combat leader, educator, global strategist and national security expert; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing served on several boards in the private sector; he was also a visiting faculty member at the University of Michigan Business School, a role in which he conducted seminars on leadership and transformation management; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing was the recipient of many awards and decorations for his meritorious service, including the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Soldiers Medal, the Bronze Star with V Device for Valor and five Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal with V Device and 35 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Army Commendation Medal with V Device and three Oak Leaf Clusters; General Downing earned the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Military Free Fall Jumpmaster Badge, the Master Parachute Badge, the Ranger Tab, and the Pathfinder Badge; he was also a commander in the French Legion of Honor; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing was preceded in death by his father; and his sister, Beth (Terry) Hartnett; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing is survived by his mother, Eileen Downing; his wife, Kathryn Bickerman Downing; his sister, Marlianne (J. Michael) Fortune; his daughters, Elizabeth Downing Revell and Laura Downing; Elizabeth's husband, James Revell, and their daughter, Madeline; and his stepsons and daughters, Daniel and Leanne Immesoete and their children, John Phillip (Jack) Immesoete and Molly Anne; Barry and Laurie Pearl Cain and their children, Charles Patrick, Mary Kathryn, and John Casey Cain; Kathryn Cain-Immesoete; Dr. Phillip A. Immesoete II; Drew Baron Immesoete, and Morgan Christopher Immesoete; and

WHEREAS, Wayne Downing leaves behind a personal legacy as a military leader, father, and role model, worthy of the respect and admiration of the citizens of the State of Illinois and our nation; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of General Wayne Downing; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of General Wayne Downing and his willingness to serve our country with bravery and distinction; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of General Wayne Downing as an expression of our sympathy.