Senate Resolution No. 1979

BY: Senator ORTT

HONORING United States Army Staff Sergeant David
Bellavia upon the occasion of his designation as a
recipient of the Medal of Honor

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services who have served valiantly and
honorably in wars in which this country's freedom was at stake, as well
as in the preservation of peace, deserve a special salute from this
Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor United
States Army Staff Sergeant David Bellavia upon the occasion of his
designation as a recipient of the Medal of Honor for rescuing his squad
and clearing out a house full of Iraqi insurgents during the Battle of
Fallujah; and

WHEREAS, This meritorious veteran will be honored for his bravery by
President Donald J. Trump in a ceremony at the White House on Tuesday,
June 25, 2019, with his family and other members of his Army unit in
attendance; and

WHEREAS, The prestigious Medal of Honor is the United States'
highest military honor and enshrines recipients in the history of our
Nation; and

WHEREAS, Born on November 10, 1975, David "Bell" Bellavia was raised
in Waterport, New York, where he grew up listening to stories from his
grandfather, a World War II veteran; after attending Franklin Pierce
College in Rindge, New Hampshire, and the University at Buffalo, he
enlisted in the United States Army in July of 1999; and

WHEREAS, After serving in Kosovo, David Bellavia was deployed to
Iraq; on November 10, 2004, Squad Leader David Bellavia exposed himself
to enemy fire defending his soldiers during the Second Battle of
Fallujah, Iraq; and

WHEREAS, Third Platoon, A Company, Task Force 2-2 was with U.S.
Marines facing about 1,500 to 3,000 insurgents who had been using the
mostly abandoned city as cover; A Company learned six to eight
insurgents were hiding somewhere in a block of 12 buildings, and the
company would have to search each one to try and find them; after
unsuccessfully searching the first nine buildings, Platoon members
entered the next structure and encountered heavy gunfire from within;
and

WHEREAS, Squad Leader David Bellavia used his M249 squad automatic
weapon to suppress and counter the insurgent attack, allowing Third
Platoon members to escape the house; however, they began taking fire
from insurgents on the house's rooftop; Staff Sergeant Bellavia,
realizing the only way to keep his platoon from taking casualties was to
eliminate the enemy, re-entered the house; and

WHEREAS, Squad Leader David Bellavia called for an M2 Bradley
Fighting Vehicle to provide suppressing fire with its 25 mm cannon as he

headed inside; he then fought his way up three floors, using his rifle
and grenades to kill four enemy insurgents and mortally wound another;
the first insurgent Staff Sergeant Bellavia killed had been loading an
RPG launcher to fire upon the Third Platoon; and

WHEREAS, Squad Leader David Bellavia's actions ultimately saved
three squads of Third Platoon; for his courageous actions during the
firefight, he received the Silver Star; on June 7, 2019, he was informed
his Silver Star would be upgraded to the Medal of Honor, making him the
lone survivor of this esteemed award from the Iraq War; and

WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant David Bellavia also earned the Bronze Star
Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the Army Achievement Medal; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his military service in 2005, with
the rank of Staff Sergeant, David Bellavia co-founded and served as Vice
Chairman of Vets for Freedom; in 2006, he was an honored guest at the
State of the Union address; and

WHEREAS, In 2007, David Bellavia published a memoir entitled House
to House: An Epic Memoir of War, co-written with John R. Bruning; in
September of 2010, the book was chosen as one of the top five best Iraq
War memoirs by journalist Thomas Ricks; two years later, he signed an
agreement with Oscar-winning producer Rich Middlemas to make his memoir
into a major motion picture; and

WHEREAS, From late 2012 through October of 2013, David Bellavia
served as the late-night host for WBEN; on October 31, 2016, he joined
WBEN's Tom Bauerle as co-host Bauerle and Bellavia, a drive time talk
show in Buffalo, New York; and

WHEREAS, Today, David Bellavia holds the title of President of
EMPact America, an American energy resiliency organization based in
Elma, New York, and is in the process of writing his second book; and

WHEREAS, In addition to these roles, David Bellavia has been a force
in Western New York politics, serving as a candidate for New York's 26th
and 27th Congressional district; and

WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which men and women like Staff Sergeant David Bellavia served their
country; and

WHEREAS, Through his sacrifice, Staff Sergeant David Bellavia
demonstrated his love for his country and this merits forevermore, the
highest respect of this State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, and their Nation; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Staff Sergeant David Bellavia upon the occasion of his designation
as a recipient of the Medal of Honor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Staff Sergeant David Bellavia.