SLS 16RS-1378 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 55
BY SENATOR PERRY
CONDOLENCES. Expresses the condolences of the Louisiana Senate upon the death of
U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Damon Taunton Williams.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
3 family of U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Damon Taunton Williams upon his
4 death while serving his country.
5 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams had a home with his wife, Jennifer,
6 and his son, Riley, in Slidell, Louisiana, and he treasured the times that he could be with
7 them when he was not deployed overseas or when he was not on active sea duty; and
8 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams was a career member of the U.S.
9 Navy, serving on assignments around the world and receiving promotions, awards and
10 decorations in recognition of his outstanding service; and
11 WHEREAS, he served on the USS Nimitz with great distinction and would later
12 serve on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise in the vital but dangerous job of a plane
13 director; and
14 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams would be deployed to the Persian
15 Gulf on five separate occasions, including one tour where he was on the ground during
16 Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
17 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams was diagnosed with cancer in 2013,
18 and during his sickness he exhibited great courage as he fought against this terrible disease;
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SLS 16RS-1378 ORIGINAL
1 and
2 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams refused to surrender to his illness and
3 fought with every fiber in his body as new setbacks rocked him and hospital stays mounted;
4 and
5 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' upbeat attitude and confidence that
6 he would eventually defeat cancer, and those who knew him and prayed for his recovery
7 took some comfort in his strength and great faith; and
8 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' family was lifted by his
9 determination to live and were comforted by the manner in which he faced his sickness and
10 the brave face he put on for others; and
11 WHEREAS, he was thirty-seven years old when he entered the final stages of his life
12 and none of his treatments and medicines seemed to have a positive effect on his weakening
13 conditions; and
14 WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' family and loved ones bid him
15 goodbye, God's speed, fair winds and following seas, on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
16 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
17 does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of U.S. Navy
18 Petty Officer Damon Williams for their immeasurable loss and for his brave service of his
19 country.
20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Petty
21 Officer First Class Williams' wife, Jennifer, and his son, Riley.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Heyward Jeffers.
DIGEST
SR 55 Original 2016 Regular Session Perry
Expresses condolences upon the death of U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Damon
Taunton Williams.
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