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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 97
BY SENATOR ADLEY
CONDOLENCES. Extends condolences upon the death of U.S. Marine Corps Gunnery
Sergeant Gregory J. Mullins.
A RESOLUTION1
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the2
family of United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant Gregory Mullins upon his3
death during a combat training exercise in California.4
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins grew up in Bayou L'Ourse, a small town in5
Assumption Parish where everyone in the community knew each other, worshiped together,6
and worked along the side of their neighbor; and7
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins graduated from Morgan City High School8
and in March of 2002, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps to fulfill his lifelong goal of9
becoming a Marine; and10
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins had long valued loyalty, courage and11
integrity, and he worked and trained hard, and made those qualities a part of his life as a12
dedicated Marine; and13
WHEREAS, as a highly respected member of the Corps, he chose as his field of14
expertise the extremely dangerous job of an explosive ordnance disposal technician, and15
after much training, he became part of an elite team of Marine Corps ordnance experts; and16
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins mastered his military duties and17
responsibilities quickly and was steadily promoted as his leadership skills were recognized18 SR NO. 97
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by his superior officers; an inspiration to his men, the troops in his unit followed his orders1
without hesitation; and2
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins would be deployed twice to Afghanistan, in3
2011 and 2012, as a team leader and learned much as he patrolled the often ambushed routes4
of the deadly war zone in search of much feared improvised explosive devices; and5
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins returned to the United States from Operation6
Enduring Freedom with much combat experience and was chosen to serve as the7
Noncommissioned Officer-In-Charge assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron,8
Marine Corps Air Station, Camp Pendleton; and9
WHEREAS, on November13, 2013, thirty-one year old Gunnery Sergeant Mullins10
was one of a group of Marine Corps Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians sweeping a11
firing range called the Zulu impact area where munitions such as grenades, mortars, artillery12
and rockets were used for training Marines in the dangerous art of war; and13
WHEREAS, during the range maintenance operation to dispose of unexpended14
ordnance, no live fire of weapons are allowed, but the munitions being collected and secured15
for disposal can be so unstable that handling them is extremely dangerous, even for the elite16
and highly trained Marine explosives experts; and17
WHEREAS, Range NCOIC Gunnery Sergeant Mullins, Staff Sergeant Mathew18
Marsh, Staff Sergeant Eric Summers, and Sergeant Miguel Ortiz were all mortally wounded19
when the munitions they were collecting detonated; and20
WHEREAS, Gunnery Sergeant Mullins awards and decorations include two Navy21
and Marine Corps Commendations Medals, the deeply respected Combat Action Ribbon,22
three Marine Corps Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the23
Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the NATO24
Medal-ISAF Afghanistan.25
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana26
does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of Gunnery27
Sergeant Gregory Mullins for the immeasurable loss they have suffered by his death and for28
the ultimate sacrifice this Marine made.29
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to30 SR NO. 97
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U.S.M.C. Gunnery Sergeant Gregory Mullins wife Violeta, his children, Ethan, age three,1
Giovanna, age two, and stepdaughter, Camila, age nine, as well as his mother Dena Polk, and2
father Christopher Holbert.3
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 97
Expresses condolences upon the death of USMC Gunnery Sergeant Gregory Mullins.