HR0328 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0328 LRB094 11958 CSA 44755 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, USAF Cpt. Todd Bracy of Thetford, England, formerly of Murphysboro, was killed March 31, 2005, when his aircraft crashed in a mountainous area of Albania; he was one of two pilots and seven other airmen aboard the MC-130H Combat Talon II; and

WHEREAS, His C-130 military transport was assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group based in Royal Air Force Mildenhall, England; the unit has been active in military and humanitarian efforts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, and various African nations; and

WHEREAS, Cpt. Bracy was born on July 16, 1970, in Landstuhl, Germany, to Lt. Col. (USAF Retired) Ronald L. Bracy and Judith R. Bracy; he graduated from Murphysboro High School in 1988 and Norwich Military College in Vermont in 1992; he enlisted in the 120th Fighter Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, in Springfield as a weapons loader; and

WHEREAS, While in the 120th Fighter Wing, he attended and graduated from the Southern Illinois University Flight School; he was selected to enter the US Air Force Officer Training School and, later, pilot school; he graduated from pilot school at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in 1998 and was assigned to fly C-21s at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska; and

WHEREAS, Following a three-year tour at Offutt, Cpt. Bracy was assigned to the 7th Special Operations Squadron in Royal Air Force in Mildenhall; and

WHEREAS, Cpt. Bracy was known as "T-Bone" within his unit; he will be remembered for his sense of humor, love of flying, and attention to detail; and

WHEREAS, During the Iraqi War, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic action to complete a dangerous mission; he was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his dedication to duty in the service of the United States; and

WHEREAS, He is survived by his wife, Tina (nee Kolberer); his children, Tess and Tate; his parents; his sister, Tonya Y. Wood (husband David); and his nephews, Thaddeus, Taylor, and Timothy Wood; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that together with his family, friends, and the citizens of this State and this great nation, we mourn the passing of USAF Cpt. Todd Bracy and extend to his family our sincerest condolences; and be it further

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