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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3 learn of the death in Afghanistan of Specialist Ryan C. Garbs
4 of Edwardsville on February 18, 2007; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Specialist Ryan C. Garbs was mortally injured in a
6 helicopter crash while executing operations in support of
7 Operation Enduring Freedom; he was assigned to Company B, 3rd
8 Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Georgia; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Ryan Garbs was born October 17, 1986 in Maryville,
10 the son of Douglas & Jill Anne Burkard Garbs; he was a member
11 of Glen Carbon New Bethel United Methodist Church; and
 
12     WHEREAS, After graduating from Edwardsville High School in
13 2005, Specialist Garbs entered the United States Army,
14 completing basic training and advanced individual training in
15 the military occupational specialty of Infantryman at Fort
16 Benning, Georgia; he continued his military training and
17 graduated from the United States Army Airborne School in
18 February of 2006; following graduation from the Ranger
19 Indoctrination Program, he was assigned to 1st Platoon, B
20 Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in March of 2006;
21 and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Specialist Garbs was a two-time veteran of the
2 Global War on Terrorism deployed in support of Operation
3 Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom; he
4 was assigned to 3rd Battalion, where he served as a grenadier
5 and rifleman; his awards and decorations include the Army
6 Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global
7 War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal,
8 the Iraqi Campaign Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and
9 the Parachutist Badge; and
 
10     WHEREAS, He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal,
11 Meritorious Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal, and was
12 promoted from Private 1st Class to Specialist; as a Ranger,
13 Specialist Garbs distinguished himself as a member of the
14 Army's premier light infantry unit, traveled to all corners of
15 the world in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and fought
16 valiantly to "uphold the prestige, honor, and high 'espirit de
17 corp' of the Ranger Regiment; and
 
18     WHEREAS, Ryan C. Garbs is survived by his parents, Douglas
19 and Jill Anne Garbs; his sister, Melanie Neely (husband, Staff
20 Sergeant Matthew Neely, United States Air Force); his paternal
21 grandfather, Lawrence Garbs; his paternal grandmother, Geneva
22 "Jean" Garbs; and his maternal grandmother, Vera M. Burkard; he
23 was preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, A.A. (Bill)
24 Burkard; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL
2 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with
3 his family and friends, the passing of Specialist Ryan C.
4 Garbs; and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Ryan C. Garbs and his
6 willingness to serve his country, which led to him making the
7 ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9 presented to the family of Ryan C. Garbs as a symbol of our
10 sympathy.