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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 60
BY SENATOR ADLEY
CONDOLENCES. Extends condolences on the death of U.S. Navy Aircrewman Joseph
Patrick Fitzmorris in Oman.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the2
death of United States Naval Aircrewman First Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris in3
a helicopter crash in Oman during a Naval recovery operation.4
WHEREAS, Aircrewman First Class Fitzmorris was a native of Shreveport,5
Louisiana, and was also a 1999 honors graduate of Ruston High School in Ruston,6
Louisiana; and7
WHEREAS, he was a gifted athlete in high school sports, lettering in baseball,8
football, and track, but he never forgot that academics was his main priority as he studied9
hard to prepare himself for college; and10
WHEREAS, in 2003, Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris earned his Bachelor of Science11
Degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion from Louisiana Tech University and continued12
his work on his Masters of Science Degree at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; and 13
WHEREAS, "JP", as his friends called him, began to feel a strong calling to serve14
his country in some way, and decided he could best do that in uniform and in 2004 he15
enlisted in the U.S. Navy; and16
WHEREAS, during his naval service, Aircrewman First Class Fitzmorris17
distinguished himself during several combat deployments to the Persian Gulf region when18 SR NO. 60
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the two-theater war raged at its highest; and1
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris, in addition to his combat experiences,2
participated in the huge humanitarian relief efforts following the deadly earthquakes in Haiti;3
and4
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris would meet, and on February 19, 2012, would5
marry, S.S. Navy Ensign Jacqueline Gulla, shortly before he deployed to Bahrain with his6
squadron; and7
WHEREAS, soon he and the members of his unit were assigned to Helicopter Mine8
Countermeasures Squadron 15, also known as the "Blackhawks", whose missions included9
heavy lift support operations; and10
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris and members of his squadron were conducting11
heavy lift support operations with a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter on July 19, 2012, when12
the aircraft crashed outside Muscat, Oman; and13
WHEREAS, the thirty-one year old Aircrewman was mortally injured in the crash,14
along with forty-year-old teammate Chief Naval Aircrewman Sean P. Sullivan of St. Louis,15
Missouri; and16
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris will be terribly missed by his family and friends17
and his dogs, Nala and Drake, and when football season begins each fall, those who knew18
him will remember the great love he had for LSU football and the delight he took when19
driving his truck; and20
WHEREAS, of all the things he loved during his life, nothing matched the deep love21
and devotion he felt for his wife, Jacquie.22
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana23
does hereby extend its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of U.S. Navy24
Aircrewman First Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris upon his death in the uniformed service25
of his country.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the27
family of U.S. Navy Aircrewman Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris.28 SR NO. 60
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 60
Expresses condolences upon the death of U.S. Navy Aircrewman First Class Joseph Patrick
Fitzmorris.