HR0905 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0905 LRB093 21902 KEF 49969 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the tragic death of Army Cpl. Forest Joseph Jostes of Albion on April 4, 2004 in Baghdad, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Forest Joseph Jostes was born on April 30, 1982, in Warrensburg, Missouri, the son of Von and Diane Ibbotson; and

WHEREAS, He joined the Army on his 17th birthday and became a member of the 25th Army Combat Engineers out of Lawrenceville; he later joined active duty with the 1st 82nd Field Artillery as part of the 1st Calvary out of Ft. Hood, Texas; he had been in Iraq for about three weeks; he was a decorated soldier and received four Army Achievement Awards; and

WHEREAS, He volunteered on April 4, 2004 for a quick response team to rescue 20 soldiers who had been pinned down by insurgents; he was a gunner in the rescue humvee, going down narrow streets to reach the trapped soldiers, that was fired upon by the insurgents; it was that attack that claimed his life; his parents were notified of his death by Casualty Assistance Officer, Jeremiah Aeschleman, who helped the family through this tragedy with his kind support; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. Jostes was a fine Christian man and was a member of Albion First Baptist Church; he carried the 91st Psalm with him wherever he went; and

WHEREAS, The passing of Army Cpl. Forest Joseph Jostes will be deeply felt by many, especially his parents, Von and Diane Ibbotson; his sister, Michelle Lee Teeter and her husband, Brian; his brothers, Benjamin L. Jostes and Evan R. Ibbotson; his grandparents, John and Laura Ibbotson, Glen and Darlene Kellison, and Norman and Shirley Costley; his nieces and nephews; and his several aunts, uncles, and cousins; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that that together with his family, friends, educators, community, and fellow members of the United States Armed Forces, we mourn the death of Army Cpl. Forest Joseph Jostes, who will be remembered as a patriotic, brave and courageous man, and offer our deepest sympathy to all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Army Cpl. Forest Joseph Jostes as an expression of our deepest sympathy.