Senate Resolution No. 959

BY: Senator RITCHIE

HONORING United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis
W. Atkins posthumously 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 Travis W. Atkins posthumously upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the Medal of Honor; and

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

WHEREAS, Travis W. Atkins was born on December 9, 1975, in Great
Falls, Montana, where he lived for the first six years of his life; his
family then moved to Bozeman, Montana, where he worked as a small engine
mechanic who loved to hunt, fish, snowmobile and camp; and

WHEREAS, On November 9, 2000, Travis W. Atkins proudly chose to
serve his country as a member of the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Upon completion of basic infantry training at Fort Benning,
Georgia, Travis W. Atkins was assigned to Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion,
327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort
Campbell, Kentucky; and

WHEREAS, Travis W. Atkins deployed with the 101st Airborne to Kuwait
in early March of 2000 and participated in the invasion of Iraq later
that month as an infantry fire team leader; and

WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his service requirements, Sergeant
Travis W. Atkins was honorably discharged from the United States Army in
December of 2003; and

WHEREAS, After attending the University of Montana, Travis W. Atkins
re-enlisted in the United States Army in 2005 and was assigned to the
10th Mountain Division at Fort Drum, New York, deploying to Iraq in
August of 2006, and shortly thereafter being promoted to staff sergeant
on May 1, 2007; and

WHEREAS, One month later, Travis W. Atkins was serving with the
Delta Company of the 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team in Abu Sarnak, Iraq, conducting route clearance just
southwest of Baghdad when, as truck commander in his Humvee, he ordered
the vehicle to stop in an effort to intercept suspected insurgents; and

WHEREAS, Travis W. Atkins approached one of the men to check him for
weapons and the man resisted, resulting in a hand-to-hand combat

engagement where Staff Sergeant Atkins realized the man had a "person
borne improvised explosive device" strapped to his body; and

WHEREAS, Upon realizing the man was going to detonate the bomb,
Travis W. Atkins sacrificed his own life to save his fellow soldiers,
grabbing the man in a bear hug, using his body as a shield from the
imminent explosion, saving three American lives; and

WHEREAS, The family of Travis W. Atkins was honored for his bravery
by President Donald J. Trump in a ceremony at the White House on
Wednesday, March 27, 2019, with his family and other members of his Army
unit in attendance; and

WHEREAS, There, Travis W. Atkins was posthumously presented with the
Medal of Honor, and lauded for his selfless service to his beloved
country; and

WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which men and women like Travis W. Atkins served their country; and

WHEREAS, Through his sacrifice, Travis W. Atkins 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 and remember United States Army Staff Sergeant Travis W. Atkins
posthumously upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Medal of Honor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Travis W. Atkins.