TITLE: In memory of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Francis Gene Phillips IV.

SUMMARY: In memory of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Francis Gene Phillips IV.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt at the loss of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Francis Gene Phillips IV of Meridian, New York, who died in Afghanistan on May 4, 2013, at the age of 28; and WHEREAS, Assigned to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry, 1st Armored Division out of Fort Bliss, Staff Sergeant Phillips was one of five soldiers killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device in Maiwand, Afghanistan; and WHEREAS, Frankie Phillips was born in Oakland, California, on August 18, 1984, to Francis G. Phillips III and Cherie Forslund Phillips; after graduating from Oceanside High School, he moved with his family to Meridian, New York, and then to nearby Auburn in 2003; he enlisted in the army in 2004 and trained at Fort Benning, Georgia; in 2005, he was deployed to Iraq, and in 2007, he began a 15-month deployment to Afghanistan, returning in 2009 for 12 more months; after training at the Ranger School, Staff Sergeant Phillips was stationed at Fort Bliss, and in December 2012, he returned to Afghanistan as the Reconnaissance Platoon team leader; and WHEREAS, His commendations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, the Army Commendation Medal with Valor device, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Army Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Army Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal with a campaign star, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with a campaign star, the NATO Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachutist Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and WHEREAS, Although the tragic death of this brave young man is a sobering reminder of the cost of war, Frankie Phillips embodied the highest ideals of the U.S. armed forces, and those who knew and loved him will forever carry him close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Francis Gene Phillips IV and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Christine Phillips; to his daughter, Sophia Phillips; to his mother, Cherie Phillips, and her fiance, Greg Race; to his father, Francis Phillips III; to his brother, David Phillips; to his sister, Danielle Nicole Phillips; to his grandparents, Jonnie Maxson-Manker, Betty Roberts, and Frank F. Phillips, Jr.; and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Francis Gene Phillips IV. N. Gonzalez of El Paso Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2639 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 24, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House