2016 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 58
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 Louisiana Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Aaron Rutledge upon his
death in the service of his country.
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Aaron Rutledge was a native of Houston, Texas, and a
resident of Pineville, Louisiana, where he served as a recruiter for the Louisiana Army
National Guard in Natchitoches; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard
in 2004 and trained hard during his basic combat training and advanced training, welcoming
the challenges that military service required; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge excelled in his dedication and dependability
to his duties, and his commanders and superiors recognized his outstanding service by
promoting him to the leadership role as Staff Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge and his unit were mobilized and deployed in
2011 in support of Operation New Dawn as Operation Iraqi Freedom came to an end and the
transition to Iraqi control of its military forces began; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge began working as a combat medic as his unit
found and engaged enemy forces determined to reverse the stability and cohesion that
departing U.S. forces had accomplished; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge and his men soon found themselves in the
middle of increased fighting and growing casualties as enemy attacks rose, and the horror,
shock, and graphic nature of those casualties strongly affected him; and
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WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge was rotated out of the theater of combat when
he and his men completed their tour of duty and returned home, but what they had witnessed
remained with them; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge and his unit were deployed once more, this time
to Afghanistan and Operation Enduring Freedom in 2013, where terrorist forces had
regrouped and began major offensives to end American presence in the region; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge, serving as a combat medic, once again was
forced to confront terrible wounds and suffering on the battlefield, and those troubling
memories lingered with him as he headed for home; and
WHEREAS, sadly, on April 2, 2015, Staff Sergeant Rutledge suffered an untimely
death at the age of twenty-seven, leaving behind his wife Allex and son Ezra Lee; and
WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Rutledge's awards and decorations include the Army
Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army
Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Campaign Star, the
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze
Hour Glass and Mobilization Device, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional
Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO
Medal, the Louisiana War Cross, 2nd Award, the Louisiana Emergency Service Medal, 2nd
Award, Louisiana General Excellence Ribbon, 2nd Award, the Louisiana Longevity Ribbon,
2nd Award, the Combat Action Badge and the Army National Guard Recruiter Badge.
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 Louisiana
Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Rutledge in their sorrow, mourning and loss, and
recognize his faithful service, sacrifice and valor in combat while in uniform.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Louisiana Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Aaron Rutledge.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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