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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 41
BY SENATORS MARIONNEAUX, ADLEY, ALARIO, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME,
CHABERT, CHAISSON, CHEEK, CLAITOR, CROWE, DONAHUE,
DORSEY, DUPLESSIS, ERDEY, B. GAUTREAUX, N. GAUTREAUX,
GUILLORY, HEBERT, HEITMEIER, JACKSON, KOSTELKA,
LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MCPHERSON, MICHOT, MORREL L,
MORRISH, MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PETERSON, QUI NN,
RISER, SHAW, SMITH, THOMPSON AND WALSWORTH
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family of United States Army Sergeant Patrick Williamson upon his death in combat
in Operation Enduring Freedom.
WHEREAS, Sergeant Patrick Williamson was a 2004 graduate of St. Thomas More
High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, where he earned a scholarship to study petroleum
engineering; and
WHEREAS, he attended the University of Louisiana in Lafayette for two years,
where he earned a major in mechanical engineering, before he decided on a new direction
for his life and enlisted in the United States Army on August 3, 2006; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Williamson's entry into the armed forces of his country surprised
no one who knew him and understood the deeply patriotic feelings he held about serving his
nation in uniform; and
WHEREAS, he emerged as a leader during his tough basic combat training at the
post known as a legendary builder of warriors, Ft. Benning, Georgia, before he received
orders for Advanced Infantry Training at Ft. Lewis, Washington; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Williamson had several attractive options and opportunities to
pursue in the military due to his outstanding performance on aptitude tests he took during
his training; and
WHEREAS, he felt that he could make the biggest difference as a soldier in the ranks
of the infantry, where his personal, voluntary mission of fighting for his country could be
accomplished; and SR NO. 41 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Sgt. Patrick Williamson was deployed to Afghanistan in July 2009,
where he was assigned to the 1
st
Battalion, 17
th
Infantry Regiment, 5
th
Stryker Brigade
Combat Team, 2
nd
Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, his mission in the southern province of Kandahar was to challenge the
large presence of Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters and their huge operation of poppy
cultivation for the world drug trade; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Williamson and his fellow soldiers were on a mission to search and
clear an area in the Arghandab Valley on October 27, 2009, when they were engaged by a
force of heavily armed enemy combatants; and
WHEREAS, Sgt. Williamson and six other members of his unit were mortally
wounded by an improvised explosive device during the fierce fighting that hit their armored
patrol that day; and
WHEREAS, the brave action of Sgt. Williamson and his men reflects the highest
standards of courage and combat service that American infantrymen can be asked to attain;
and
WHEREAS, those who loved Sgt. Williamson are filled with great pride in the
manner in which he conducted himself during his uniformed service to his country in a
distant war, and they are also filled with the terrible sadness and the great sense of loss that
comes with such sacrifice; and
WHEREAS, his true love, Cydney, his parents, Leon and Sybil and his sister, Betsey,
and brother, Max, will keep forever alive the memory of Sgt. Williamson.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the loved ones of Sgt.
Patrick Williamson for their sacrifice and his heroic service to his country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Sergeant Patrick Williamson.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE