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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 60
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 Naval Aircrewman First Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris in
a helicopter crash in Oman during a Naval recovery operation.
WHEREAS, Aircrewman First Class Fitzmorris was a native of Shreveport,
Louisiana, and was also a 1999 honors graduate of Ruston High School in Ruston,
Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, he was a gifted athlete in high school sports, lettering in baseball,
football, and track, but he never forgot that academics was his main priority as he studied
hard to prepare himself for college; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris earned his Bachelor of Science
Degree in Kinesiology and Health Promotion from Louisiana Tech University and continued
his work on his Masters of Science Degree at the University of Louisiana at Monroe; and
WHEREAS, "JP", as his friends called him, began to feel a strong calling to serve
his country in some way, and decided he could best do that in uniform and in 2004 he
enlisted in the U.S. Navy; and
WHEREAS, during his naval service, Aircrewman First Class Fitzmorris
distinguished himself during several combat deployments to the Persian Gulf region when
the two-theater war raged at its highest; and
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris, in addition to his combat experiences,
participated in the huge humanitarian relief efforts following the deadly earthquakes in Haiti;
and
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris would meet, and on February 19, 2012, would
marry, S.S. Navy Ensign Jacqueline Gulla, shortly before he deployed to Bahrain with his
squadron; and SR NO. 60 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, soon he and the members of his unit were assigned to Helicopter Mine
Countermeasures Squadron 15, also known as the "Blackhawks", whose missions included
heavy lift support operations; and
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris and members of his squadron were conducting
heavy lift support operations with a MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter on July 19, 2012, when
the aircraft crashed outside Muscat, Oman; and
WHEREAS, the thirty-one year old Aircrewman was mortally injured in the crash,
along with forty-year-old teammate Chief Naval Aircrewman Sean P. Sullivan of St. Louis,
Missouri; and
WHEREAS, Aircrewman Fitzmorris will be terribly missed by his family and friends
and his dogs, Nala and Drake, and when football season begins each fall, those who knew
him will remember the great love he had for LSU football and the delight he took when
driving his truck; and
WHEREAS, of all the things he loved during his life, nothing matched the deep love
and devotion he felt for his wife, Jacquie.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family of U.S. Navy
Aircrewman First Class Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris upon his death in the uniformed service
of his country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of U.S. Navy Aircrewman Joseph Patrick Fitzmorris.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE