09 LC 94
0205
Senate
Resolution 89
By:
Senator Douglas of the 17th
A
RESOLUTION
Recognizing
and commending Mr. Richard Ingram on earning his commission as Second Lieutenant
in the United States Army; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
Second Lieutenant Richard Ingram is the first severely wounded soldier from the
wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to overcome amputation and become an officer;
and
WHEREAS,
Lt. Ingram joined the Army National Guard in 2002, while also attending school
at North Georgia College and State University in Dahlonega, Georgia;
and
WHEREAS,
in 2005, Lt. Ingram's 48th Infantry Brigade was called to Iraq and he put his
studies and his life on hold to preserve the ideals of freedom and democracy;
and
WHEREAS,
while patrolling the town of Yusufiyah, just south of Baghdad, on July 20, 2005,
Lt. Ingram's vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb, causing injuries that forced
the amputation of Lt. Ingram's left arm; and
WHEREAS,
after returning to the United States for medical treatment, Lt. Ingram retired
on medical grounds and resumed his courses at North Georgia, but refused to let
his dream of serving his country and defending freedom end; and
WHEREAS,
in 2007, Lt. Ingram served the State of Georgia as an intern to Senator John
Douglas and after sharing with the Senator his desire and determination to
return to the Army and commission as an officer despite his status as an
amputee, the two made a visit to the Army Inspector General in Washington, D.C.;
and
WHEREAS,
after making a case to the Army Inspector General, the long-time policy of
refusing officer commissions for severely injured soldiers was changed;
and
WHEREAS,
nearly 4,000 men and women currently belong to the Wounded Warrior Program,
soldiers classified as severely wounded by at least a 30 percent disability, 113
of which have continued with military service as either active duty or reserve;
and
WHEREAS,
Lt. Ingram is the first from the Wounded Warrior Program to restart his career
as an officer after proving he had the physical ability to lead a platoon
despite his injury; and
WHEREAS,
Lt. Ingram attended the Leadership Development Assessment Course in Fort Lewis,
Washington, a required 35 day course in which an Army cadet must demonstrate
physical fitness, land navigation, marksmanship, and leadership;
and
WHEREAS,
receiving no special accommodations for his injury, Lt. Ingram finished second
in his platoon of 50 cadets, using his high-tech prosthetic arm to perform
expert marksmanship and do almost 80 push-ups in two minutes; and
WHEREAS,
after having taken his oath of office as a second lieutenant on December 13,
2008, Lt. Ingram will lead an engineer platoon in the 10th Mountain Division,
likely to see combat again in Afghanistan, and hopes to complete Airborne and
Ranger school in the future; and
WHEREAS,
a driven and dedicated soldier with sheer perseverance on the battlefield and
back home, Lt. Ingram serves as a role model not only for disabled veterans, but
for all Americans; and
WHEREAS,
this remarkable 25 year old embodies the spirit of service, willing to find
meaning in something greater than himself and serving as a guardian of this
nation's liberty.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend
Second Lieutenant Richard Ingram for his brave and admirable service in the
defense of the United States of America and congratulate him on the distinction
of being the first severely wounded soldier to become an officer.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Second Lieutenant Richard
Ingram.