THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY OBERLANDER, HUTCHINSON, McCALL, ADOLPH, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BENNINGHOFF, BEYER, BISHOP, BOYD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, BUXTON, CAUSER, CLYMER, COX, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DALLY, DAY, DELOZIER, DENLINGER, DePASQUALE, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DRUCKER, ELLIS, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FARRY, FLECK, GABIG, GABLER, GEIST, GEORGE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, HARHART, HARPER, HARRIS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HORNAMAN, KAUFFMAN, KESSLER, KILLION, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KRIEGER, LEVDANSKY, LONGIETTI, MAHER, MAJOR, MARKOSEK, MARSHALL, MARSICO, MELIO, METCALFE, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MILLER, MILNE, MOUL, MURT, MUSTIO, O'NEILL, PASHINSKI, PAYNE, PEIFER, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PRESTON, QUINN, RAPP, REED, REESE, REICHLEY, ROAE, ROCK, ROEBUCK, ROHRER, ROSS, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SIPTROTH, S. H. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, STEVENSON, SWANGER, TALLMAN, R. TAYLOR, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WATSON AND YUDICHAK, OCTOBER 29, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, OCTOBER 29, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing and honoring Specialist Ross A. McGinnis, recipient

of the Medal of Honor.

WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor, the highest award for valor, is

bestowed upon members of the United States Armed Forces who have

distinguished themselves above and beyond the call of duty; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 3,464 individuals have been awarded

the Medal of Honor since the Civil War; and

WHEREAS, Only 378 Pennsylvanians have received the Medal of

Honor and, under Pennsylvania law, have been remembered with a

commemorative marker in Soldiers' Grove; and

WHEREAS, Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis, an honorable

and distinguished Pennsylvanian from Clarion County, was

posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for valor on June 2,

2008, in addition to receiving numerous other meritorious awards

during his extraordinary military career; and

WHEREAS, PFC McGinnis entered into military service June 14,

2004, and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry

Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division,

Schweinfurt, Germany; and

WHEREAS, PFC McGinnis served as an M2 .50-caliber machine

gunner with the 1st Platoon, C Company, in connection with

combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast

Baghdad, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, While the platoon was conducting combat control

operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence

in the area, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell

through the gunner's hatch into PFC McGinnis's Humvee vehicle;

and

WHEREAS, PFC McGinnis was mortally wounded on December 4,

2006, while he pinned the live grenade between his body and the

vehicle, absorbing most of the explosion and saving the lives of

at least four other soldiers; and

WHEREAS, PFC McGinnis was nominated by his commanders for the

Medal of Honor and posthumously promoted to Specialist;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize that

without Specialist McGinnis's courage, selfless sacrifice and

profound concern for the welfare of his fellow soldiers, the

loss of life in his unit would have been significantly greater;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor Specialist

McGinnis's conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary heroism at

the cost of his own life and above the call of duty; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives duly recognize

Specialist McGinnis's heroism and sacrifice, in keeping with the

highest tradition of the United States Army; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives pay tribute to

Specialist Ross A. McGinnis, recipient of the Medal of Honor,

for his brave actions in combat in 2006, who is officially

granted his rightful place of honor in the Medal of Honor

Memorial at Soldiers' Grove on the grounds of the State Capitol

of this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the family of Specialist Ross A. McGinnis.