HR1007 LRB095 19931 GRL 46352 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of United
4 States Army Specialist Matthew F. Straughter of St. Charles,
5 Missouri, formerly of Belleville, who was killed in action in
6 Baghdad, Iraq on January 31, 2008; and
 
7     WHEREAS, Spc. Matthew F. Straughter joined the Missouri
8 Army National Guard as a combat engineer in December 2005; he
9 was assigned to the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th Engineer
10 Brigade of the Missouri National Guard out of Fort Leonard
11 Wood, Missouri; his unit was mobilized in July of 2007; and
 
12     WHEREAS, As a member of the 1138th Engineer Company, 35th
13 Engineer Brigade, Spc. Matthew F. Straughter located
14 improvised explosive devices and maintained traffic flow along
15 military supply routes; and
 
16     WHEREAS, Spc. Matthew F. Straughter served on Operation
17 Jump Start, the border security mission in Arizona, from
18 November of 2006 until June of 2007; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Spc. Matthew F. Straughter was the recipient of
20 several military medals, as well as the Army Service Ribbon,
21 Overseas Service Ribbon, Missouri Basic Training Ribbon, and

 

 

HR1007 - 2 - LRB095 19931 GRL 46352 r

1 Arizona Community Service Ribbon, in recognition of his
2 meritorious service; and
 
3     WHEREAS, Spc. Matthew F. Straughter was the dear husband of
4 Thelma M. Straughter; the dear son of Perry and Elizabeth
5 Vinson; the dear father of Matthew Jr., Serenity Renee, Donte,
6 Justice, and the stepfather of Tavia; the dear son-in-law of
7 Veronica King; and the dear brother of Andrew and Katherine;
8 therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
11 mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of United
12 States Army Specialist Matthew F. Straughter; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Spc. Matthew F.
14 Straughter and his willingness to serve our country, which led
15 to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
16     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
17 presented to the family of Spc. Matthew F. Straughter as an
18 expression of our sympathy.