HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 91-4611, by Representative Wynne

     WHEREAS, The people of Washington State stand behind the men and women carrying out Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm; and

     WHEREAS, Nearly eight thousand five hundred regular, reserve, and National Guard service men and women from Washington State are directly supporting the war to free the people of Kuwait; and

     WHEREAS, We pray for the successful accomplishment of their mission and their safe return; and

     WHEREAS, These troops have put their personal priorities aside, their jobs on hold, and dedicated their personal safety to freeing others from oppression; and

     WHEREAS, The families of these men and women have sacrificed the comfort of close family relationships, income, and security, trading them for the uncertainty and instability that war brings; and

     WHEREAS, Each person has a crucial role to play in the success of Operation Desert Storm; and

     WHEREAS, The following service men and women had shipped out from Washington State by January 22, 1991:

     (1) Over two thousand three hundred regular Naval personnel serving as pilots, on ships, and in the Medical Corps in the Middle East;

     (2) Another four hundred Naval reservists were called up to join them;

     (3) More than seven hundred regular Air Force men and women in Supply and Transportation Squadrons, Combat Control, and the Security Police;

     (4) Another six hundred Air Force reservists have joined them in these squadrons;

     (5) Twenty-seven active duty units, or nearly two thousand five hundred men and women of the Army have been deployed to Operation Desert Storm;

     (6) Another nineteen Army Reservist units, nearly one thousand one hundred persons, including the 50th General Hospital, consisting of over seven hundred men and women in which Senator Mike Kriedler is serving, were deployed; and

     (7) Our own Washington Air and Army National Guard has on active duty approximately three hundred twenty-five men and women in the 141st Air Refueling Wing, the 252nd Combat Communications Group, the 241st and the 1444th Transportation Detachments, and the 116th Support Center; and

     WHEREAS, These numbers change daily as men and women are called up, moved out, and redeployed; and

     WHEREAS, All six-month rotations have been canceled until further notice, and men and women are serving an indefinite term; and

     WHEREAS, Reservists and National Guard personnel will be returning to their families, homes, and jobs when Operation Desert Storm is over; and

     WHEREAS, The legislature recognizes the Reservist and National Guard personnel's concerns about reentering the job marketplace;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State House of Representatives commend and honor the men and women who are carrying the mission of freedom to a distant land, offer comfort and succor to their gallant families, and encourage those at home to welcome them back when their mission is accomplished; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to Major General Gregory P. Barlow, Lt. Commander Keith Arterburn, Navy Lt. Commander Jim Britt, Col. Mike McCarthy, and the I Corps Public Affairs Office.