ENROLLED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 63
BY REPRESENTATIVES BROADWATER, HAZEL, ABRAMSON, ADAMS, ANDERS,
ARMES, ARNOLD, BADON, BARRAS, BARROW, BERTHELOT, BILLIOT,
STUART BISHOP, WESLEY BISHOP, BOUIE, BROWN, BURFORD, HENRY
BURNS, TIM BURNS, BURRELL, CARMODY, CARTER, CHANEY, CONNICK,
COX, CROMER, DANAHAY, DOVE, EDWARDS, FANNIN, FOIL, FRANKLIN,
GAINES, GAROFALO, GEYMANN, GISCLAIR, GUILLORY, GUINN, HALL,
HARRIS, HARRISON, HAVARD, HENRY, HENSGENS, HILL, HODGES,
HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, HONORE, HOWARD, HUNTER, HUVAL, IVEY,
JACKSON, JAMES, JEFFERSON, MIKE JOHNSON, ROBERT JOHNSON,
JONES, KLECKLEY, LAMBERT, NANCY LANDRY, TERRY LANDRY,
LEBAS, LEGER, LEOPOLD, LOPINTO, LORUSSO, MACK, MIGUEZ, MILLER,
MONTOUCET, MORENO, JAY MORRIS, JIM MORRIS, NORTON, ORTEGO,
OURSO, PEARSON, PIERRE, PONTI, POPE, PRICE, PUGH, PYLANT,
REYNOLDS, RICHARD, RITCHIE, ROBIDEAUX, SCHEXNAYDER,
SCHRODER, SEABAUGH, SHADOIN, SIMON, SMITH, ST. GERMAIN,
STOKES, TALBOT, THIBAUT, THIERRY, WHITNEY, ALFRED WILLIAMS,
PATRICK WILLIAMS, WILLMOTT, AND WOODRUFF AND SENATORS
ADLEY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, AMEDEE, APPEL, BROOME, BROWN,
BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, CLAITOR, 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 WHITE
A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
To express the condolences of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the death of Chief Warrant
Officer 4 George David Strother, of Alexandria, Louisiana, on March 10, 2015.
WHEREAS, it is with deep regret and profound sorrow that the Legislature of
Louisiana has learned of the death of Chief Warrant Officer 4 George David Strother, who
was killed in dutiful service to his country when his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed
during a nighttime exercise in Florida; and
WHEREAS, born on October 2, 1970, to the late George Douglas "Coach" and Sara
Nell Vercher Strother, George David Strother grew up with a love of the outdoors; he had
a passion for sports, riding four-wheelers, and found joy in songwriting and playing music
with his friends and family; and
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WHEREAS, heeding the call of his country, George David Strother began a career
with the Louisiana Army National Guard in 1988 and served until 2007 and from 2009 until
his death; and
WHEREAS, George David Strother was first stationed in Pineville as a utility
helicopter repairer and quickly moved up the enlisted ranks; he was promoted to sergeant
in 1992; and
WHEREAS, while active in the Louisiana Army National Guard, he served as a team
leader for the Youth Challenge Program of Louisiana from 1993 until 1994; and
WHEREAS, on December 1, 1994, he was appointed to the rank of Warrant Officer
1, and upon completion of the Warrant Officer Basic course, he then concentrated his career
path towards helicopter aviation; he advanced to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer 2 in
1997, Chief Warrant Officer 3 in 2007, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 on December 7, 2013;
and
WHEREAS, throughout his prominent military career, Chief Warrant Officer 4
Strother logged over two thousand four hundred flight hours, which included over seven
hundred combat hours; he was deployed in Iraq for a year and in support of Operation Joint
Guardian (KFOR) in Kosovo; and
WHEREAS, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Strother served in the Louisiana Army National
Guard with great courage and valor as evidenced by his receipt of numerous awards and
decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal with Bronze Service Star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with
Campaign Star, the Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon, and the Combat Badge and
Master Aviator Badge; and
WHEREAS, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Strother left an indelible mark on his family,
friends, community, and the state of Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Strother's passion for his country and
community will forever remain in the hearts and minds of his loving wife of twenty years,
Melissa Rachal Strother; his son, George David "DJ" Strother, II; his daughter, Chelsie
Rachal; his mother; his brother, Bob Strother; his sister, Elizabeth Denell Wolf; and many
other family members, nieces, and nephews; and
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WHEREAS, the sacrifices made by the great men and women who protect and
defend the United States and its citizens must always be acknowledged by those who are left
behind to honor their memory; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the Legislature of Louisiana records for
posterity the extraordinary dedication and commitment to his country that Chief Warrant
Officer 4 Strother displayed throughout his life and in the performance of his military
service.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
express its condolences and most heartfelt sorrow to the family of Chief Warrant Officer 4
George David Strother and does hereby acknowledge and record for posterity the unique and
special contributions of Chief Warrant Officer 4 Strother to the city of Alexandria, to the
state of Louisiana, and to the United States of America.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the family of Chief Warrant Officer 4 George David Strother.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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