HR1119 LRB093 22714 HSS 52394 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois learned with regret of the death in Iraq of
4 U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt of Hammond on Sunday,
5 June 27, 2004; and
 
6     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt was assigned to Battery B, 1st
7 Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, 1st Calvary Division at Fort
8 Hood in Texas; and
 
9     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt was born in Chicago to Ernest
10 Utt Sr. and Mary Utt; he graduated in 1983 from Atwood-Hammond
11 High School in Illinois, where he played football and was on
12 the track team; he married Denise on February 1, 1994; and
 
13     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt entered active duty in the U.S.
14 Army in September of 1983 as a field Artillery Cannon Crew
15 Member at Fort Sill, Oklahoma; since enlisting, his assignments
16 include Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion 75th Field Artillery in
17 Buamberg, Germany; Operation Group, Wolf Team, Fort Irwin,
18 California; 4th Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, Buamholder,
19 Germany; Alpha, Bravo, and Charlie Batteries, 2nd Battalion,
20 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, Fort Bragg, North
21 Carolina; Operations Group, Wolf Team, Fort Irwin, California;
22 and his final assignment, Alpha and Bravo Batteries 1st
23 Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery, Fort Hood, Texas; and
 
24     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt is a graduate of the Primary
25 Leadership Development Course, the Basic Non-Commissioned
26 Officer Course, and the Advanced Non-Commissioned Officers
27 Course; he also completed Airborne School, Air Assault School,
28 Jumpmaster School, Air Movement Operations, and the Observer
29 Controller Academy; during his service, he held positions
30 ranging from Section Chief (light and heavy), Gunnery Sergeant,
31 Chief of Firing Battery, and Battery First Sergeant; in

 

 

HR1119 - 2 - LRB093 22714 HSS 52394 r

1 addition, he performed the duties of an Observer Controller and
2 Assistant Operations Sergeant; and
 
3     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt's awards include the
4 Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army
5 Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense
6 Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon, Overseas
7 Service Ribbon, Superior Unit Citation, Driver's Badge
8 (wheeled and tracked), Master Parachutist Badge, and the Air
9 Assault Badge; and
 
10     WHEREAS, First Sergeant Utt was a 21-year U.S. Army veteran
11 and could have left the service to retire instead of going to
12 Iraq, but he had a strong sense of duty to the many soldiers
13 under his command; and
 
14     WHEREAS, The passing of U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E.
15 Utt has been deeply felt by many, especially his wife, Denise
16 Utt; his father, Ernest Utt Sr.; his brother, Jordan Utt; and
17 his five children; therefore, be it
 
18     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
19 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
20 mourn the passing of U.S. Army First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt,
21 and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and
22 all who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
23     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of First Sergeant Utt
24 and his willingness to serve his country, which led to him
25 making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
26     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
27 presented to the family of First Sergeant Ernest E. Utt as an
28 expression of our sincerest condolences.