2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 55
BY SENATORS PERRY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, BROWN, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR,
COLOMB, CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI,
HEWITT, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU,
MARTINY, MILKOVICH, MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH,
PEACOCK, PETERSON, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH,
TARVER, THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family of U.S. Navy Petty Officer First Class Damon Taunton Williams upon his
death while serving his country.
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams had a home with his wife, Jennifer,
and his son, Riley, in Slidell, Louisiana, and he treasured the times that he could be with
them when he was not deployed overseas or when he was not on active sea duty; and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams was a career member of the U.S.
Navy, serving on assignments around the world and receiving promotions, awards and
decorations in recognition of his outstanding service; and
WHEREAS, he served on the USS Nimitz with great distinction and would later
serve on the flight deck of the USS Enterprise in the vital but dangerous job of a plane
director; and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams would be deployed to the Persian
Gulf on five separate occasions, including one tour where he was on the ground during
Operation Iraqi Freedom; and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams was diagnosed with cancer in 2013,
and during his sickness he exhibited great courage as he fought against this terrible disease;
and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams refused to surrender to his illness and
fought with every fiber in his body as new setbacks rocked him and hospital stays mounted;
and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' upbeat attitude and confidence that
he would eventually defeat cancer, and those who knew him and prayed for his recovery
took some comfort in his strength and great faith; and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 55 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' family was lifted by his
determination to live and were comforted by the manner in which he faced his sickness and
the brave face he put on for others; and
WHEREAS, he was thirty-seven years old when he entered the final stages of his life
and none of his treatments and medicines seemed to have a positive effect on his weakening
conditions; and
WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Williams' family and loved ones bid him
goodbye, God's speed, fair winds and following seas, on Sunday, November 1, 2015.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its deepest and most profound condolences to the family of U.S. Navy
Petty Officer Damon Williams for their immeasurable loss and for his brave service of his
country.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Petty
Officer First Class Williams' wife, Jennifer, and his son, Riley.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2