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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death in
4 Afghanistan of Specialist Ryan C. Garbs of Edwardsville on
5 February 18, 2007; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Specialist Ryan C. Garbs was mortally injured in a
7 helicopter crash while executing operations in support of
8 Operation Enduring Freedom; he was assigned to Company B, 3rd
9 Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia; and
 
10     WHEREAS, Ryan Garbs was born October 17, 1986 in Maryville,
11 the son of Douglas & Jill Anne Burkard Garbs; he was a member
12 of Glen Carbon New Bethel United Methodist Church; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Ryan Garbs gave up soccer and baseball to start
14 physical conditioning after his sophomore year of high school;
15 he wanted to be in great shape for the Army Rangers; he
16 researched and began running daily, in addition to working out
17 with weights; and
 
18     WHEREAS, After graduating from Edwardsville High School in
19 2005, Specialist Garbs entered the United States Army,
20 completing basic training and advanced individual training in
21 the military occupational specialty of Infantryman at Fort

 

 

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1 Benning, Georgia; he continued his military training and
2 graduated from the United States Army Airborne School in
3 February of 2006; following graduation from the Ranger
4 Indoctrination Program, he was assigned to 1st Platoon, B
5 Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in March of 2006;
6 and
 
7     WHEREAS, Specialist Garbs was a two-time veteran of the
8 Global War on Terrorism deployed in support of Operation
9 Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom; he
10 was assigned to 3rd Battalion, where he served as a grenadier
11 and rifleman; his awards and decorations include the Army
12 Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global
13 War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
14 the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and
15 the Parachutist Badge; and
 
16     WHEREAS, He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal,
17 Meritorious Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, and was
18 promoted from Private 1st Class to Specialist; as a Ranger,
19 Specialist Garbs distinguished himself as a member of the
20 Army's premier light infantry unit, traveled to all corners of
21 the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and fought
22 valiantly to "uphold the prestige, honor, and high 'espirit de
23 corp' of the Ranger Regiment; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Ryan C. Garbs is survived by his parents, Douglas
2 and Jill Anne Garbs; his sister, Melanie Neely (husband, Staff
3 Sergeant Matthew Neely, United States Air Force); his paternal
4 grandfather, Lawrence Garbs; his paternal grandmother, Geneva
5 "Jean" Garbs; and his maternal grandmother, Vera M. Burkard; he
6 was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, A.A. (Bill)
7 Burkard; therefore, be it
 
8     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
9 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
10 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of
11 Specialist Ryan C. Garbs; and be it further
 
12     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Ryan C. Garbs and his
13 willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the
14 ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to the family of Ryan C. Garbs as a symbol of our
17 sympathy.