SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13
(By Senators Kimble, Hunter, Love, Oliverio, Sharpe, Ross,
Schoonover, Sprouse, Dittmar, Bowman, Macnaughtan, Fanning,
Helmick, Prezioso, White, Snyder, Bailey, Walker, Chafin, Craigo,
Wiedebusch, Tomblin, Mr. President, Jackson, Wooton, Deem and
Plymale)
Commending the accomplishments of United States Senator Jay
Rockefeller in his commitment to the welfare of veterans.
Whereas, Senator Rockefeller has lent the power and prestige
of his office to helping thousands of Persian Gulf War veterans,
many of whom are West Virginians, afflicted with illnesses which
may have been caused by exposure to chemical agents during their
military service; and
Whereas, The West Virginia Legislature adopted House
Concurrent Resolution No. 14 in 1991 supporting our men and women
in "Operation Desert Storm" in the United States' stand against
Iraq's aggression; and
Whereas, Thousands of West Virginia men and women were part
of that effort, including:
646th Quartermaster Company, United States Army Reserve,
Kingwood (124 persons);
328th Quartermaster Detachment, United States Army Reserve,
Kingwood (17 persons);
313th Military Police Detachment, United States Army
Reserve, Myrtle (62 persons);
646th Quartermaster Detachment, United States Army Reserve,
Elkins (62 persons);
351st Ordnance Company, United States Army Reserve,
Martinsburg, Keyser, Romney (150 persons);
388th Quartermaster Detachment, United States Army Reserve,
Elkins (13 persons);
Navy Hospital Portsmouth Unit 406, United States Navy
Reserve, Charleston (33 persons);
Company A, 4th Combat Engineer Battalion, United States
Marine Corps Reserve; Charleston (30 persons);
304th Military Police Company, United States Army Reserve,
Bluefield (157 persons);
1st Platoon, 304th Military Police Company, United States
Army Reserve, Lewisburg (30 persons);
363rd Military Police Company, United States Army Reserve,
Grafton (125 persons);
1st Platoon, 363rd Military Police Company, United States
Army Reserve, Jane Lew (32 persons);
130th Tactical Airlift Group, West Virginia Air National
Guard, Charleston (232 persons);
167th Tactical Airlift Group, West Virginia Air National
Guard, Martinsburg (58 persons);
146th Medical Company, West Virginia Army National Guard,
Parkersburg (113 persons);
157th Military Police Company, West Virginia Army National
Guard, Martinsburg (92 persons);
1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery, West Virginia Army
National Guard, Fairmont, Elkins, Keyser, Kingwood, Morgantown
(453 persons); and
152nd Military Police Detachment, West Virginia Army
National Guard, Moundsville (52 persons); and
Whereas, These men and women served when their country
needed them, and now that they need their country, it is time
their voices be heard and their illnesses addressed; and
Whereas, West Virginia is a pro-veterans state with over
200,000 men and women residents who are veterans. West Virginia
traditionally sends the highest per capita soldiers into war and
we have a long-standing tradition of caring for our veterans; and
Whereas, Senator Rockefeller has long been an advocate of West Virginia's veterans, having served as the Senate Veteran's
Affairs committee chairman during the 103rd Congress and now as
the ranking democrat on that committee; and
Whereas, Senator Rockefeller shares our concern over the
illnesses being experienced by our fellow West Virginians and by all the veterans of the Gulf War; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That Senator Jay Rockefeller is commended for his continuing
commitment to the welfare of veterans and urged by this body to
continue to fight for the humane treatment of veterans who are
injured in serving this great country, whether that injury be a
wound or an illness; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to
forward a copy of this resolution to Senator Jay Rockefeller.