HR1415: HR1415 Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon Memorial Highway; Richmond County; dedicate

26 LC 39 4963 House Resolution 1415 By: Representative Prince of the 132nd A RESOLUTION Honoring the life of Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon and dedicating a road in his memory; and1 for other purposes.2 WHEREAS, Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon was born on August 30, 1960 , and grew up in3 Lincoln, Maine, before joining the United States Army at the age of 18; and4 WHEREAS, Master Sgt. Gordon was serving as sniper team leader f or the United States5 Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia, when6 his unit was subjected to intense enemy fire while attempting to rescue the crew of a downed7 helicopter; and8 WHEREAS, Master Sgt. Gordon volunteered to be inserted to prote ct four critically9 wounded personnel, despite the risk to his own safety; and10 WHEREAS, he and a fellow sniper fought through intense small ar ms fire and a maze of11 shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members; and12 WHEREAS, after depleting his ammunition and losing his fellow s niper to enemy fire,13 Master Sgt. Gordon recovered weapons and ammunition from the cr ashed helicopter and14 H. R. 1415 - 1 - 26 LC 39 4963 elected to give the last five rounds of recovered ammunition to the pilot of the crashed15 helicopter; and16 WHEREAS, Master Sgt. Gordon gave the ultimate sacrifice for his fellow man and his17 selflessness embodied the spirit of service; and18 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkab le and distinguished19 American be recognized appropriately by dedicating a road in his memory.20 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL21 ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the portion of U.S. 78/U.S. 278/State Route 10 from22 Willhaven Drive eastward to Belfair Lakes Drive in Augusta-Richmond County is dedicated23 as the Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon Memorial Highway.24 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and25 directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon26 Memorial Highway.27 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28 and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution avai lable for distribution to the29 family of Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon and to the Department of Transportation.30 H. R. 1415 - 2 -