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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 50
BY SENATORS ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAI TOR, CORTEZ, CROWE,
DONAHUE, DORSEY-COLOMB, ERDEY, GALLOT, GUILLORY,
HEITMEIER, JOHNS, KOSTELKA, LAFLEUR, LONG, MARTINY,
MILLS, MORRELL, MORRISH , MURRAY, NEVERS, PEACOCK,
PERRY, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHI TE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of United States Army Sergeant Christopher P. Soderlund during ground
combat in Afghanistan.
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund was a native of Pineville, Louisiana, and enlisted
in the Army in March, 2006, training to become an infantrym an before being stationed at
Fort Polk, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund was assigned to Fort Polk's 2
nd
Battalion, 30
th
Infantry Regiment, 4
th
Brigade Combat Team of the 10
th
Mountain Division, and in
November, 2007, he was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom until his return home in
January, 2009; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund was blessed to have had the time to start a family
with his wife, Jessica, his daughter, Adrianne, and his son, Gabriel, who were truly the most
important parts in his life; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund's unit would again be deployed to a combat zone,
this time in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, where he was assigned to Logar
Province, Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund was twenty-three years old when he lead his troops
on a mounted patrol, July 9, 2011, to check on reports of enemy soldiers operating in the
area; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund and his patrol came under fire from heavily armed
insurgents and as the two opposing forces engaged each other in the following firefight, a
rocket propelled grenade struck his vehicle and mortally wounded him; and SR NO. 50 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund's loss was a blow to his troops, but they bravely
continued the fight against the enemy until the insurgents were forced to withdraw from their
positions in retreat; and
WHEREAS, both family and friends of Sergeant Soderlund were stricken by his loss,
but they felt great pride in knowing the depth of the sacrifice he had suffered and that it was
for his country, which he so loved dearly; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Soderlund was an outstanding soldier and his awards and
decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation
Medal, the Valorous Unit Award, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense
Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War
on Terrorism Service Medal, the Non-commissioned Officer Professional Development
Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal and the
prestigious Combat Infantryman Badge.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the wife, children, parents
and friends of United States Army Sergeant Christopher Soderlund for their immeasurable
loss and for his ultimate sacrifice in the defense of his country's freedom.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Sergeant Soderlund's wife, children and parents.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE