S*0658 Concurrent Resolution, By Knotts, Alexander, Anderson, Bright, Bryant, 
Campbell, Campsen, Cleary, Coleman, Courson, Cromer, Davis, Elliott, Fair, Ford, 
Grooms, Hayes, Hutto, Jackson, Land, Leatherman, Leventis, Lourie, Malloy, 
L. Martin, S. Martin, Massey, Matthews, McConnell, McGill, Nicholson, O'Dell, 
Peeler, Pinckney, Rankin, Reese, Rose, Ryberg, Scott, Setzler, Sheheen, 
Shoopman, Thomas, Verdin and Williams
 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY
 SPECIALIST DAVID W. THOMAS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY WHILE HE WAS SERVING A
 TOUR OF MILITARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN, AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST
 APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND
 SERVICE.

   03/03/11  Senate Introduced, adopted, sent to House
                     (Senate Journal-page 9)
   03/08/11  House  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence
                     (House Journal-page 48)

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY SPECIALIST DAVID W. THOMAS OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY WHILE HE WAS SERVING A TOUR OF MILITARY DUTY IN AFGHANISTAN, AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, on behalf of all South Carolinians, acknowledge with deep appreciation the great sacrifice that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of freedom and justice, which are so richly enjoyed in this nation; and

Whereas, Specialist David W. Thomas of the United States Army stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and

Whereas, as a committed serviceman, Specialist David W. Thomas was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Answering the call of his country, he left his home to serve abroad as a part of the war on terror; and

Whereas, Specialist Thomas proved himself worthy of the name of American serviceman during his military career, earning numerous awards and decorations, including the National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Navy and Marine Achievement Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy and Marine Unit Commendation, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal; and

Whereas, on June 27, 2010, at the age of forty, Specialist David W. Thomas lost his life for the cause of freedom, dying from wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with small-arms fire in Konar, Afghanistan; and

Whereas, there is no greater or more courageous sacrifice a man can make than to lay down his life for a noble cause, as Specialist David W. Thomas has done, and to honor his valor, Specialist Thomas has been named a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Palmetto Patriot Award, given by former Lieutenant Governor André Bauer; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Specialist David W. Thomas, one of the nation's finest, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and ultimate sacrifice of this heroic son of liberty. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice made by Specialist David W. Thomas of the United States Army while he was serving a tour of military duty in Afghanistan, and express to his family the deepest appreciation of a grateful State and nation for his life, sacrifice, and service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Specialist David W. Thomas.