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
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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.