2015 -- H 6346

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LC002948

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

WELCOMING UNITED STATES NAVY SHIP, THE USS TORTUGA AND ITS CREW, TO

BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND, ON JULY 2, 2015, TO CELEBRATE THE 4TH OF JULY

FESTIVITIES

     Introduced By: Representatives Mattiello, Gallison, Marshall, and DeSimone

     Date Introduced: June 24, 2015

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, The USS Tortuga is a Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship and is the

second United States Navy ship to bear this name. The USS Tortuga was laid down in New

Orleans in 1987, launched in 1988, and was commissioned in 1990; and

     WHEREAS, The USS Tortuga has served our nation with honor and distinction in

numerous capacities. She served in the Mediterranean, the South Pacific, as part of a NATO

peacekeeping force in the Atlantic Ocean, in Greece in support of operations in Kosovo, in

support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and took part in a three-month deployment to the Pacific,

operating out of Singapore, taking part in an annual exercise with the Navies of Singapore,

Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines. The USS Tortuga also participated in

disaster relief operations in Japan after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, participated in joint

annual military exercises with the armed forces of the Philippines, and visited the island of Iwo

Jima in March of 2010, to celebrate the anniversary of the American victory in the World War II

battle fought there in 1945; and

     WHEREAS, In 2005, the USS Tortuga served as part of Joint Task Force Katrina. She

was the first navy ship to sail up the Mississippi River after the hurricane, and berthed on the

West Bank of New Orleans. The USS Tortuga played a crucial and vital role in various

operations in New Orleans after the hurricane. Her crew conducted numerous rescue missions and

saved many lives; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby welcomes the USS Tortuga and Commanding Officer,

Commander Jeff D. Baker, Executive Officer, Commander Eric H. Hull, Command Master Chief

Rodd D. Tooker, and the entire crew to Bristol, Rhode Island’s 4th of July festivities; and be it

further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Commander Jeff D. Baker, Commanding

Officer, USS Tortuga.

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