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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 127
BY SENATOR SMITH
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family of United States Army Sergeant Joshua Abram Tomlinson upon his death in
combat in Operation Enduring Freedom.
WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson was a native of Webster Parish and graduate of
Lakeside High School in Sibley, Louisiana, where he will always be remembered for his
love of the outdoors and his skills as a hunter and fisherman; and
WHEREAS, he surprised his family and friends when he enlisted in the United States
Army about a year after high school and headed off to begin his basic combat and advanced
individual training; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson welcomed the challenges of military life,
successfully completed his military training, and was proud of his role and the part he was
playing in the service of his country; and
WHEREAS, he was assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, V Corps, in
Heidelberg, Germany, where he and his wife, Rowena, settled into the routine of overseas,
military duty; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom in
September 2009, and was serving as a combat driver and an air defense artilleryman for
Headquarters Support Group, International Security Assistance Force Joint Command in
Kabul, Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, he was known as a highly skilled, well disciplined, combat leader by
his superiors and his fellow soldiers, and his outstanding conduct exemplified the best that
America has to offer; and SR NO. 127 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson was escorting several high-ranking military
officers who were conducting a site survey in advance of the deployment of a division
headquarters on May 18, 2010, when enemy forces attacked his convoy with a vehicle-borne
explosive device, driven by a suicide bomber; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson was twenty-four years old when he and four other
soldiers were mortally wounded in the savage, terrorist attack on the convoy traveling down
Darulaman Road in the northeastern town of Kabul; and
WHEREAS, he will be mourned and deeply missed by his family, friends, and those
who served with him, but he will be forever remembered for his courage and gallantry in
combat and his sacrifice on behalf of his country in its war on terror; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Tomlinson was recognized by his country for his outstanding
service and his awards and decorations, which include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple
Heart, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service
Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon with Bar, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action
Badge, and the Expert Weapons Qualification Badge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deep and profound condolences to the family of United States Army
Sergeant Joshua Abram Tomlinson for their immeasurable loss and his ultimate sacrifice in
the fight to protect his country from its enemies.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to
Sergeant Tomlinson's family.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE