HJ332: Celebrating the life of Petty Officer First Class Robert R. McRill.

WHEREAS, Petty Officer First Class Robert R. McRill, United States Navy, died in the line of duty on July 6, 2007, as a result of enemy action while conducting combat operations in Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Robert McRill grew up in Lake Placid, Florida, graduated from Lake Placid High School, and enlisted in the United States Navy on March 5, 1991; and

WHEREAS, following his graduation from Naval Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois, in May 1991, Petty Officer McRill reported to the Naval Air Technical Training Center in Pensacola, Florida; he then spent three years at Naval Air Station Dallas before reporting to the Defense Photo School also in Pensacola; and

WHEREAS, Petty Officer McRill was aboard the USS John C. Stennis from June to November of 1995, and had a brief tour at Visual Support Unit, Oceana, Virginia, before serving aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, homeported in Norfolk, from November 1996 to January 2002 and then the USS Eisenhower, also homeported in Norfolk; and

WHEREAS, while aboard the aircraft carriers, Petty Officer McRill deployed to the Mediterranean in support of Operations Noble Anvil/Allied Force, Southern Watch, and Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, trained as a combat cameraman, Petty Officer McRill was subsequently assigned to Naval Expeditionary Combat Command Detachment, Combat Camera Atlantic from February 2004 to April 2007, during which time he documented the funeral of President Ronald Reagan, Guatemalan flood relief efforts, and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts; and

WHEREAS, in May 2007, Petty Officer McRill reported to Naval Special Warfare Group Two based at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk and from there he was deployed to Iraq with a SEAL team; and

WHEREAS, during his service, Petty Officer McRill was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards), Navy “E” Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (four awards), Kosovo Campaign Medal, NATO Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (three awards), Rifleman (Marksman) Ribbon, and Pistol Shot (Marksman) Ribbon; and

WHEREAS, Petty Officer McRill was devoted to his wife and three children who will miss him greatly as will many other family members, friends, and fellow sailors; and

WHEREAS, Petty Officer McRill’s death is a reminder of the perils faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harm's way; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic American, Petty Officer First Class Robert R. McRill; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Petty Officer First Class Robert R. McRill, United States Navy, as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of the Commonwealth.