SR2008 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR2008 LRB099 22242 GRL 49611 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of John Mahlan Stevens, who passed away on June 9, 2016; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens was born on January 16, 1963; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on November 29, 1982; he retired honorably in 2004, having served his country for more than 22 years during peacetime and in combat; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens rose through the ranks from Private to Chief Warrant Officer-3; he served in various leadership roles during his military career, serving as a highly trained and skilled tactical communications expert; he was later unanimously selected for the Marine Warrant Officer Program to become a network management officer; and

WHEREAS, The highlight of John Stevens' military career was becoming a Force Reconnaissance Marine; as a member of the historic 2nd Force Reconnaissance Company, he was hand-selected to attend more than 14 of the most comprehensive and challenging intelligence gathering programs in the United States Armed Forces involving classified high-risk evolutions and real-world sensitive joint operations at the national and international level; he was one of the first Marines to participate in a United Nations-sanctioned competition for the world's top military commandos and anti-terrorist specialists, as part of the United States Presidential "Partnership for Peace" initiative; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens attended Amphibious Reconnaissance School, NCO Leadership School, SNCO Career Program, SNCO Advanced Program, the Warfighting Skills Program, Communications Systems School, Chief Warrant Officer Basic School, Marine Corps Signals Intelligence School, Network Management School, and numerous classified training qualifications; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens was the recipient of numerous military awards, including the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with eight stars, the National Defense Service Medal with one star, the Southwest Asia Service Medal with two stars, the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal with four stars, the Humanitarian Service Medal with one star, the NATO Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait), the United Nations Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia), the Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one star, a Meritorious Unit Commendation with one star, and the Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon; he earned numerous Meritorious Masts, Letters of Appreciation, Certificates of Commendation, and dozens of laudable service acknowledgment letters, reports and recommendations; his military breast insignias include United States Marine Corps Combatant Diver, Navy & Marine Corps Gold Parachute Wings, Special Forces Military Freefall Insignia, and Expert Rifle & Pistol Badges, reflecting multiple awards; and

WHEREAS, John Stevens is survived by his wife, Analiza Stevens; his daughters, Samantha Smith and Louva and Havana Stevens; his son, Brandon Stevens; his mother, Aurelia "Mickey" Shannon Miller; his sister, Julya (John) Myers; his nephew, Daniel Myers; his nieces, Marcia Myers and Megan Myers; and his great-niece, Skylar Williams; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we, along with his family and friends, mourn the passing of John Mahlan Stevens; and be it further

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