2018 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 15
BY SENATOR JOHN SMITH
A RESOLUTION
To commend Fort Polk Fire Chief Emeritus Michael L. Kuk for being inducted into the
Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation Hall of Fame.
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that the citizens of this state and the Senate of the
Legislature of Louisiana have learned of the honor bestowed upon Fort Polk Fire Chief
Emeritus Michael L. Kuk for being inducted into the Military Firefighter Heritage
Foundation Hall of Fame; and
WHEREAS, Michael L. Kuk was inducted on April 28, 2018, as the United States
Army's awardee for 2018; and
WHEREAS, the event took place at the Department of Defense Military Fire
Academy, located at Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas; and
WHEREAS, Chief Kuk has been a lifelong firefighter, serving as a military,
industrial, civilian, and volunteer fire chief at several departments, and is a decorated United
States Army Vietnam Veteran; and
WHEREAS, he served as the Long Binh military fire station chief, supervising
twenty soldier-firefighters, during his time in Vietnam from 1970-1971; and
WHEREAS, Long Binh was the military's largest constructed and operated base of
support and command operations for a theater of war; and
WHEREAS, he was recognized at the awards ceremony for his continued work in
the American fire service, still serving as an active volunteer firefighter, chaplain, master
musician, historian, and author; and
WHEREAS, Michael L. Kuk is a credentialed and certified chief fire officer, and
holds dual fellowships in the Institution of Fire Engineers of Great Britain and Homeland
Security; and
WHEREAS, this is his third time to be inducted into a hall of fame; he was inducted
into the 50-60s Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2006 with his band from the 1960s the "Union
Jacks" and then was the first inductee into the United States Army Fire Chiefs Hall of Fame
in 2009; and
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WHEREAS, Chief Kuk continues to serve in many capacities for both the American
and International fire services, traveling abroad with numerous fire service delegations to
share knowledge and experience with his foreign counterparts, and is a guest speaker at
multiple fire service events; and
WHEREAS, he has been a published fire service author since 1972, and has written
many landmark articles and booklets about rare firefighting history and incidents that have
shaped the direction of how firefighters undertake their careers, training, and historical
accounts; and
WHEREAS, he is currently writing a memoir about his time in Vietnam as an Army
firefighter; and
WHEREAS, as a professional union musician, he performs on the keyboard and as
a vocalist at many firefighter, military, and civil ceremonies throughout the year; and
WHEREAS, the award was co-presented by Chief G. Keith Bryant, the United States
Fire Administrator and the Chairman of the Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation,
Michael D. Robertson; and
WHEREAS, the strength of our communities and the overall vitality of American
society depend, in great measure, upon the dedication of men like Michael L. Kuk who
proudly serve our country and use their considerable talents and resources to benefit future
generations.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby acknowledge the honor bestowed upon Fort Polk Fire Chief Emeritus
Michael L. Kuk for being inducted into the Military Firefighter Heritage Foundation Hall
of Fame and wish him much success in all his future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Fort Polk Fire Chief Emeritus Michael L. Kuk.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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