093_HR0069

                                     LRB093 04091 HSS 04131 r

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, Combat is inherently dangerous, for both  ground
 3    forces  and  aircrews;  in a combat environment, aircrews are
 4    called upon to make split-second, life  or  death  decisions;
 5    and

 6        WHEREAS,  Combat  operations on the ground and in the air
 7    in a war zone can be chaotic and complete information on  the
 8    location  of  both  friendly  and  hostile  forces  is  often
 9    unavailable; and

10        WHEREAS,  Major  William  Umbach  and Major Harry Schmidt
11    were  the  pilots  in  a  friendly-fire  incident   involving
12    Canadian ground forces on April 17, 2002 in Afghanistan; and

13        WHEREAS,  Neither  pilot  had reliable information on the
14    disposition of enemy or friendly forces on the ground  or  of
15    live-fire exercises being conducted by coalition forces; and

16        WHEREAS,  Both  Major  Schmidt  and Major Umbach believed
17    that they were taking ground fire from an unknown source  and
18    that   they   were   required   to   suppress  that  fire  in
19    self-defense; and

20        WHEREAS, Friendly fire accidents  have  been  present  in
21    every major conflict and have always been considered a tragic
22    part of warfare; and

23        WHEREAS,  These  two  pilots  are  highly  qualified  and
24    experienced and both are members of the Illinois Air National
25    Guard; therefore, be it

26        RESOLVED,   BY   THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES  OF  THE
27    NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS,  that
28    together   with   former   Governor   George  Ryan,  the  VFW
29    Northenders Post Number 10302 of Springfield, and many  other
30    individuals  and  organizations, we stand in support of Major
 
                            -2-      LRB093 04091 HSS 04131 r
 1    Umbach and Major Schmidt; and be it further

 2        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 3    presented  to  President  George W. Bush, Commander in Chief,
 4    General Richard B. Myers, Chairman of  the  Joint  Chiefs  of
 5    Staff,  General  John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff of the United
 6    States Air Force, and the VFW Northenders Post Number 10302.