HR0719 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0719 LRB096 15381 KXB 30534 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of Staff Sergeant Christopher Michael Rudzinski of Rantoul, who passed away on October 16, 2009 near Kandahar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered while conducting military operations in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; he was a staff sergeant in the United States Army Military Police Corps; and

WHEREAS, Christopher was born in Augsburg, Germany, on August 29, 1981, a son of Michael Charles Rudzinski and Bonita Kay (Jackson) Rudzinski; Christopher was a 1999 graduate of Rantoul Township High School, where he was active in the marching band, madrigal, and Help Peers; and

WHEREAS, Prior to coming to Rantoul, he lived in Germany, Arizona, and Washington; growing up a military brat and being part of a family with a tradition of military service in the United States armed forces dating back to the Second World War, he enlisted in the United States Army at the age of 17 and was sworn into service by his father, Michael; and

WHEREAS, He was an M1 Abrams tank armor crewman and attended basic training and the armor school at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he was subsequently assigned to Germany and deployed on his first tour to support the peacekeeping operations in Kosovo; he was later transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, and assigned to the 4th Infantry Division and subsequently deployed to Iraq for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003; toward the end of this deployment, he became ill with leishmaniasis and was medically evacuated to Walter Reed Army Hospital for treatment; and

WHEREAS, He re-enlisted for service as a military police officer and graduated from MP training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in 2004; he was again assigned to Germany where he met his future wife, Caroline, and later deployed to Iraq on his third tour, this time training and mentoring Iraqi policemen; and

WHEREAS, While home on leave during the tour, he married the love of his life, Caroline; upon returning to Germany, Christopher resumed his police duties and later became an investigator and MP desk sergeant; and

WHEREAS, In September of 2008, his wife, Caroline, gave birth to their son, Ryan, and Christopher added "devoted dad" to his responsibilities; and

WHEREAS, His last military assignment was to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he deployed to Afghanistan with the 293rd MP Company on his last tour; and

WHEREAS, His military awards included the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, four Army Commendation Medals, four Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Service Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal, the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, the NATO Medal, the Combat Action Badge, the Driver's Badge, and the German Schutzenschnur Badge in Gold; and

WHEREAS, Christopher had a love of cars, fishing, video games, friends, family, and Walt Disney World; and

WHEREAS, He was preceded in death by his mother, Bonita, and his beloved sister, Jacqueline Rudzinski; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Christopher Michael Rudzinski is survived by his wife Caroline and son Ryan; his parents, Michael and Natalie Rudzinski; his sister, Annette Dalton; his brothers, Private First Class Jordan Rudzinski, Christian, and Alexander Rudzinski; his nephews, Ian and Sean Dalton; his paternal grandmother, Janet Rudzinski; his maternal grandparents, David and Valerie Grindley; his great-grandmother, Nadine Legue; and his aunts and uncles and their families, Eric and Judy Rudzinski, David and Gwen Rudzinski, Oliver and Martina Hemming, Erick and Sonya Grindley, and James and Martha Jackson; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family, friends, and a grateful nation, the passing of Staff Sergeant Christopher Michael Rudzinski; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant Christopher Michael Rudzinski and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Staff Sergeant Christopher Michael Rudzinski as a symbol of our sincere sympathy.