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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 40
BY SENATORS MARIONNEAUX, ADLEY, ALARIO, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, CHABERT,
CHAISSON, CHEEK, CLAITOR, CROWE, DONAHUE, DORSEY, ERDEY, GAUTREAUX,
GUILLORY, HEITMEIER, JACKSON, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY, MCPHERSON,
MICHOT, MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH, MOUNT, MURRAY, NEVERS, PERRY, PETERSON,
QUINN, RISER, SHAW, SMITH, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH AND WILLARD-LEWIS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana to the family of Louisiana National Guard Staff Sergeant William Austin
Daniel upon his untimely death due to Hodgkins Lymphoma.
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel was a native of Baton Rouge, a graduate of LSU
Laboratory High School, and attended Southeastern Louisiana University; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel loved LSU football, LSU baseball, fishing, boating,
golfing, hunting, guns, and especially the military; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel served in the United States Army from September
22, 1997, to January 11, 2000, and he served in the Louisiana National Guard from January
12, 2000, to September 7, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel proudly served his country in Operation Iraqi
Freedom with the 256
th
Infantry Brigade of Lafayette from May 15, 2004, to November 5,
2005, and received numerous military awards and decorations, including the Combat
Infantryman's Badge for engaging enemy forces as an infantryman, and the most noteworthy
Meritorious Service Medal and Army Commendation Medal; and
WHEREAS, in addition to running patrols, Staff Sergeant Daniel was chosen to train
Iraqi Troops in infantry procedures, and was also chosen to train troops in Thailand; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel participated in National Guard Response and Relief
efforts in support of the people of Louisiana, and was a member of the Louisiana National
Guard's Honor Guard; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in
November 2008, and he never lost his loving nature or contagious smile that was always on
his face even through the rigors of chemotherapy and his disease; and SR NO. 40 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel, a proud and courageous soldier, was as brave in
battle as he was in his fight against cancer, however he succumbed to the disease; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel passed away at the age of thirty-three on September
7, 2009, and was buried on September 11, 2009, with full military honors; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel brought laughter and love to many lives, hope to
the Iraqi people, honor to his family, the State of Louisiana, and the United States of
America; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel, known as "Austin" to family and friends is a true
American hero whose bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and is sorely missed by
everyone who knew and loved him; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel made sure of two things before his short time on
Earth was through, that his family would be taken care of, and that he lived life to the fullest;
his greatest accomplishment was his beloved three-year-old daughter Anna Lee, who will
always remember, admire, and love her "daddy"; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Daniel was a loved husband, father, son, grandson, brother,
friend, and soldier, and is loved and dearly missed by his family, especially his wife, Jill
Evans Daniel, daughter, Anna Lee Daniel, parents Randal and Alice Daniel, friends, and
brother soldiers who will keep his memory alive forever.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of Louisiana
National Guard Staff Sergeant William Austin Daniel for their great loss and for his faithful
service to his country and nation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Staff Sergeant William Austin Daniel.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE