SR0377 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0377 LRB094 13518 CSA 48382 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Gunnery Sgt. Terry W. Ball Jr. of Jacksonville, North Carolina, formerly of East Peoria, died August 5, 2005 from injuries he received June 12, 2005 in Al Karmah, Iraq, while warning others in his unit about a bomb; and

WHEREAS, Sgt. Ball was born September 9, 1968, in Peoria, to Terry W. Sr. and Sharon S. Burger Ball; he was a 1987 graduate of East Peoria Community High School, where he was captain of the football and wrestling teams; he married Jennifer H. Coughlin on September 10, 1994 in Lakehurt, New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, He joined the Marine Corps on February 14, 1989, and first served as a military occupational specialty-infantryman/mortorman stationed with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Marines, at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; during this time, he served in Operation Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991; he then was stationed at School of Infantry at Camp Gieger, North Carolina, and later was a drill instructor with E Company, 2nd Battalion at Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina; he then was stationed with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marine at Camp Lejeune; he served in the conflict in Kosovo and the humanitarian effort in Turkey; he later was stationed at the Staff Noncommission Officer's Academy at Camp Butler in Okinawa, Japan, where he was staff NCO in charge of the sergeant's course; he last was stationed with 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines at Camp Lejeune, where he served in the conflict in Haiti and Operation Iraqi Freedom; he received the Purple Heart on July 29, 2005, and will be awarded the Bronze Star posthumously; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his grandparents; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his wife, Jennifer; his sons, Gavin and Ethan; his daughter, Riley Ball; his parents; and his sister, Melissa Ball; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family, friends, fellow members of the United States armed forces, and the citizens of this State and this great nation, we mourn the passing of Gunnery Sgt. Terry W. Ball Jr. and we extend to his family our sincerest condolences; and be it further

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