HR0953 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that we pay honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country, and in doing so, have gone above and beyond the call of duty to make the ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Major Reid B. Nannen of Hopedale, who passed away on March 1, 2014 due to injuries sustained in an F/A-18C Hornet crash at the Fallon Grange Training Complex, in Fallon, Nevada; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen was born in Peoria on October 15, 1981 to Dale P. and Mary Ann Hays; he graduated from Olympia High School in 2000, where he was a 2-year captain of the swim team, section leader for the drum line, member of the Elite Eight baseball teams in 1999 and 2000, and an Illinois State Scholar; following his high school graduation, he attended the University of Illinois, where he was a member of the NROTC battalion and participated in the Marching Illini Drum Line NROTC Drill Team; he married fellow soldier, Sarah M. Simpson, on August 6, 2005 in Peoria; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen was commissioned a 2nd LT. in May of 2004 and attended The Basic School with Delta Company class 4-04; after TBS, he attended Naval Aviation Training with MATSG-21 at NAS Pensacola, NAS Whiting Field, and NAS Meridian; he received his Wings of Gold in February of 2007 and was selected to fly F/A-18 Hornets; he moved to Lemoore, California, for fleet replacement training with VFA-125 in May of 2007; after finishing carrier qualification, he reported for duty with MAG-11 at MCAS Miramarl; in June of 2008, he joined VMFA (AW)-232 and deployed from May to December of 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 10.2 to Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan; while with the Red Devils, he served as NATOPS, Ground Safety, Airframes, and Embark Officers; he attended Tactical Air Control Party training in May of 2011 and proceeded to Camp Pendleton, California, for duty as a forward air controller with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance battalion; he again deployed to Afghanistan from October of 2011 to May of 2012 with 1st LAR in support of OEF 12.1 in the lower Helmand River Valley in Afghanistan; he supported every company within 1st LAR and conducted the first company level helicopter operations within the battle space; he returned to Camp Pendleton and subsequently detached from the battalion for refresher training at VMFAT-101; in August of 2012, he transferred to VMFA (AW)-242, where he served as the assistant operations officer; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen's awards and decorations include the NATO Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the National Defense Medal, the Navy Unit Commendation, the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Air Medal; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen was promoted posthumously from Captain to Major; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen enjoyed collecting and assembling Star Wars Legos, loved the Drum Corps International, and had a great enthusiasm for military history and ancient civilizations; he was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hopedale; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, "Pete" and Mabel Nannen, and Curtis and Evelyn Simpson; and

WHEREAS, Maj. Nannen is survived by his wife, Sarah; his sons, Peter Nannen and Curtis Nannen; his daughters, Betsy Nannen and Isla Nannen; his parents, Dale and Mary Ann Nannen; his sisters, Bethany Nannen Miller and Briana Nannen; his maternal grandparents, Raymond and Elaine Hays; his niece, Madeline Miller; his nephew, A.J. Miller; his mother and father-in-law, Dale and Dianne Simpson; his sister-in-law, Ellyn (Matt) Franke; his grandparents-in-law, Virgil and Jan Handel; and his step-grandparent-in-law, Shirley Simpson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Major Reid B. Nannen, and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Maj. Nannen as an expression of our deepest sympathy.