HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 98-4718, by Representatives Mitchell, Robertson, Hickel, D. Schmidt, D. Sommers, L. Thomas, Butler, Alexander, Sterk and Dunn

      WHEREAS, The 448th Civil Affairs Battalion, a special operations army reserve unit located at Fort Lewis, is made up of citizen soldiers from the state of Washington, twenty-seven of whom recently returned from service in the former Yugoslavia; and

      WHEREAS, The mission of the 448th Civil Affairs Battalion is of long-term importance that does not end with victory on the battlefield, but continues through the restructuring of civilian and governmental institutions, rebuilding of societies, resettling the displaced, and helping restore essential services, such as medical, infrastructure and government functions in areas devastated by war, insurrection, and natural disaster; and

      WHEREAS, The 448th Civil Affairs Battalion includes two citizen soldiers who recently completed the grueling soldier recognition board and are now preparing for the United States Army's Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Board to compete with other Special Operations Soldiers nation-wide; and

      WHEREAS, Specialist Jim Hutchinson, a resident of Federal Way employed by the Washington State House of Representatives as a Legislative Aide to Representative Maryann Mitchell, scored the highest among Psychological Operations and Civil Affairs soldiers, advancing to the next level of consideration for Special Operations Command Soldier of the Year; and

      WHEREAS, Sergeant Nicholas Benzschawel, a former Army Ranger, veteran of Panama, resident of Kent and member of the Seattle Fire Department, bested his fellow noncommissioned officer competitors by scoring one-third more than his nearest rival for consideration as United States Army Special Operations Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; and

      WHEREAS, The Washington State House of Representatives extends best wishes to Specialist Sergeant Hutchinson and Specialist Sergeant Benzschawel as they advance to the next level of competition to be held at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in July;

      NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of this Fifty-sixth Legislature honor Specialist Jim Hutchinson and Sergeant Nicholas Benzschawel for their outstanding service to Washington State and the nation and for their accomplishments as Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; and

      BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Commander of the 448th Civil Affairs Battalion at Fort Lewis, Washington.

      I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

      Resolution 4718 adopted by the House of Representatives

                          March 5, 1998.

                 ________________________________

                  Timothy A. Martin, Chief Clerk