HR1065

LRB094 20005 HSS 57480 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois learned with sadness of the death in 
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Afghanistan of Staff Sergeant Edwin Herbert DazaChacón, 
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formerly of Belleville, on February 13, 2006; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He was born on July 4, 1967, in Bogatá, Columbia; 
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he graduated from Miami Sunset High School in Miami, Florida, 
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in 1986; he served two separate enlistments in the U.S. Army; 
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at the time of his death, he had the rank of Staff Sergeant and 
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was the NCOIC of SOT-A Team 708, HSC, 3rd Battalion, 7th 
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Special Forces Group (A) at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on 
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deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring 
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Freedom; and

 
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    WHEREAS, During his first enlistment, starting in 1990, he 
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served in the 82nd Airborne Division, deploying to Iraq for 
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Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm; he was subsequently 
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assigned to the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force in 
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Vincenza, Italy, and participated in deployments to Egypt, 
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Rwanda/Uganda/Zaire, Bosnia, and Liberia; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After completing his initial enlistment in 1997, 
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Staff Sergeant DazaChacón left active military service and 
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relocated to Belleville; while in Belleville, he joined the 
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U.S. Army Reserves as he completed his Bachelor of Science in 
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instructional design and workforce education at the University 
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of Southern Illinois; during this time, he was employed as the 
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Manager of Fleet Operations for Southwestern Bell in St. Louis, 
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Missouri; due to his patriotism and undeniable calling to 
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serve, Staff Sergeant DazaChacón returned to active duty to 
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serve his country following the events of September 11, 2001; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, His military awards and decorations include the 
 


 






HR1065
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LRB094 20005 HSS 57480 r




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Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army 
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Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the 
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Southwest Asia Service 
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Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, the Global War on Terrorism 
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Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the 
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Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, the 
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Army Service Ribbon, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, and the 
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Senior Parachutist Wings; he was posthumously awarded the 
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Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious 
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Service Medal, and the Combat Action Badge; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The passing of Staff Sergeant Edwin Herbert 
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DazaChacón has been deeply felt by many, especially his mother, 
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Smila Chacón Valencia; and his sisters, Monique F. Daza Chacón 
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and Jessica A. Daza Chacón; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
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we mourn the passing of Staff Sergeant Edwin H. DazaChacón, and 
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we extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and all 
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who knew and loved him; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Staff Sergeant 
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DazaChacón and his willingness to serve our country, which led 
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to him making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to his family as an expression of our sincerest 
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condolences.