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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 161
BY SENATOR NEVERS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family of Louisiana Army National Guard Specialist Christopher Drake upon his
death in ground combat in Operation Enduring Freedom.
WHEREAS, Christopher Drake was a resident of Tickfaw, Louisiana, and grew up
in Independence where he graduated in 2011 from Independence High School, where he was
an all-district defensive back on the school football team and a starting cornerback his senior
year; and
WHEREAS, even though he was highly involved in athletics during high school,
Christopher worked at Middendorf's Restaurant near Pass Manchac in order to have some
income of his own; and
WHEREAS, Christopher had dreamed of attending college after high school but he
realized that he would have financial troubles with his tuition and so he decided to enlist in
the Louisiana Army National Guard in order to help pay his way and get his degree in
engineering; and
WHEREAS, Christopher joined the military in September 2011, successfully
completed his basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and satisfied all the
requirements for the military occupation specialty of truck driver; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Christopher Drake was soon assigned to the 1084
th
Transportation Company, 165
th
Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, 139
th
Regional
Support Group based in Reserve, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Drake and his unit received their orders to deploy to
Afghanistan in early 2013, and he was especially proud when he was promoted to the rank
of Specialist in April; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Drake was given the dangerous job of gunner on a mine
resistant, ambush protected vehicle and given the task of maintaining control and security
on the dusty roads north of the war-torn country's capital, Kabul; and SR NO. 161 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, Specialist Drake was twenty years old when he and members of his unit
were given the mission of patrolling and securing his area of operations near the small town
of Bagram on Sunday, May 19, 2013; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Drake's mounted patrol came under fierce attack by heavily-
armed enemy fighters and his vehicle was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade that mortally
wounded the young soldier; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Drake's decorations and awards include the Purple Heart, the
National Defense Service Medal, the Global War On Terror Service Medal, the Afghanistan
Service Medal, the Overseas Service Ribbon and the Army Service Ribbon; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Drake's mother, Rose, had always been the center of his
world and now she must face the reality of a life without her precious son and the end of so
many dreams they shared.
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 Specialist
Christopher Drake for their immeasurable loss and his ultimate sacrifice during his brave
service in his country's war on terror.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Louisiana Army National Guard Specialist Christopher Drake.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE