SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 52

(By Senators Green, D. Hall, Wells, Kessler (Mr. President), Plymale, Stollings, Yost and Jenkins)

Memorializing the life of Jeffrey S. Taylor, a native of Midway, West Virginia, who gave his life in defense of his country.

    Whereas, Jeffrey S. Taylor spent his first eighteen years in Midway, West Virginia, where he graduated from Independence High School in Coal City; and

    Whereas, Jeffrey S. Taylor enlisted in the U. S. Navy on June 20, 1994, and completed basic training in Great Lakes, Illinois, in August, 1994. He was also a graduate of Field Medical Service School in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and became a Navy SEAL following Underwater Demolition/SEAL Training in Coronado, California; and

     Whereas, Jeffrey S. Taylor was also a Basic Airborne and Military Freefall Parachute School graduate, and in addition to SEAL Team Ten, his previous duty stations include the Navy Medical Center, Portsmouth, the 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, SEAL Team Eight and USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71); and

    Whereas, Sadly, Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor died June 28, 2005, while conducting combat operations in Afghanistan. He was killed when the MH-47 Chinook helicopter he was aboard crashed into the rugged mountains of eastern Afghanistan. The helicopter was en route to provide support to troops on the ground when it was shot down by enemy forces. He was assigned to SEAL Team Ten, Virginia Beach; and

    Whereas, Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor’s military awards include the Bronze Star with Combat “V” for Valor, Purple Heart, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for Valor, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, posthumously, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation (2), Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy “E” Ribbon, Good Conduct Ribbon (4), Navy Fleet Marine Force Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (3) as well as numerous other personal and command awards; and

    Whereas, Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor left behind a host of family and friends to cherish his memory, including his wife Erin (Banghart) Taylor of Virginia Beach; his mother, Gail Bowman of Beckley, West Virginia; brother, Brandon Eston Cox of Wichita; his stepfather, Jim Bowman; four stepbrothers, James Gregory Bowman, Jay Patrick Bowman, Kelly Dale Bowman and Carl Dayton Bowman, all of Beckley; his father, John Taylor, stepmother, Cheryl Gwinn Taylor, and his half-brothers, Justin Alex Taylor and Josh David Taylor, all of Rainelle, West Virginia; his maternal grandmother, Manda Elizabeth Birchfield; and a paternal grandmother, Lucille Taylor Smith; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that today we honor the life of Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor, who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Senate:

    That the Senate hereby memorializes the life of Jeffrey S. Taylor, a native of Midway, West Virginia, who gave his life in defense of his country; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Senate expresses its most sincere condolences to the family of Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the family of Hospital Corpsman First Class Jeffrey S. Taylor.