S*0759 Resolution, By Wilson
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO COMMEND LIEUTENANT SHANE OSBORN OF THE UNITED STATES
 NAVY, FOR HIS BRAVE AND GALLANT ACTS IN LANDING HIS DAMAGED AIRCRAFT ON
 FOREIGN SOIL THAT ENSURED THE SURVIVAL OF HIS ENTIRE CREW AND TO WISH HIM MUCH
 SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

   06/20/01  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-11

TO COMMEND LIEUTENANT SHANE OSBORN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, FOR HIS BRAVE AND GALLANT ACTS IN LANDING HIS DAMAGED AIRCRAFT ON FOREIGN SOIL THAT ENSURED THE SURVIVAL OF HIS ENTIRE CREW AND TO WISH HIM MUCH SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS IN THE YEARS AHEAD.

Whereas, Lieutenant Shane Osborn displayed the courage and leadership that only a true hero can possess when he successfully landed the damaged EP-3E plane he was piloting over the South China Sea on April 1, 2001, ensuring the safety of the plane's other twenty-three crew members; and

Whereas, in the early of hours of April 1, 2001, Lieutenant Shane Osborn and his crew were flying a routine surveillance mission over international waters in their EP-3E Navy plane when a Chinese F-8 fighter plane began harassing them by flying dangerously close and causing excessive turbulence for the EP-3E; and

Whereas, the Chinese aircraft eventually collided with Lieutenant Osborn's plane, cutting off the EP-3E's nose and disabling the right wing's inner engine and, even with the unbalanced engines and sheared nose of the aircraft, Lieutenant Osborn was able to regain control of the plane after a five minute, eight thousand foot plunge, to carry out a heart-stopping landing without braking wing flaps and with an antenna wrapped around the tail of the airplane; and

Whereas, the plane was quickly surrounded by Chinese troops who demanded through bullhorns that the crew abandon the plane and fortunately the crew had carried out its orders of destroying sensitive surveillance and recording equipment during the life-threatening emergency landing. After surrendering to the Chinese, the men and women of the EP-3E began a tense and uncertain period of "detention"; and

Whereas, Lieutenant Shane Osborn remained a leader for his crew throughout their entire ordeal of having to conduct an emergency landing on the Chinese island of Hainan, being held in custody and interrogated by the Chinese government, and being kept from their loved ones and their home soil; and

Whereas, the President of the United States personally commended the bravery and skill of Lieutenant Shane Osborn and his crew through the trying ordeal of their flight, collision, and subsequent detainment by a foreign government; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are proud to recognize the leadership qualities and aviating ability of Lieutenant Shane Osborn and are grateful to have him serving in our nation's military, defending our freedom, and ensuring the safety of our democracy for years to come. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend Lieutenant Shane Osborn of the United States Navy for his brave and gallant acts in landing his damaged aircraft on foreign soil that ensured the survival of his entire crew and wish him much success and happiness in the years ahead.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Lieutenant Shane Osborn.