Louisiana SR 131: CONDOLENCES:  Expresses the condolences of the Senate of the Louisiana Legislature on the death of U.S. Naval Aviation Instructor Lieutenant Patrick L. Ruth.

Bill Text

2018 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 131
BY SENATORS PERRY, ALARIO, ALLAIN, APPEL, BARROW, BISHOP,
BOUDREAUX, CARTER, CHABERT, CLAITOR, COLOMB,
CORTEZ, DONAHUE, ERDEY, FANNIN, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS,
LAFLEUR, LAMBERT, LONG, LUNEAU, MARTINY, MILKOVICH,
MILLS, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK, PETERSON,
PRICE, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER,
THOMPSON, WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana to the
family of U.S. Naval Aviation Instructor Patrick L. Ruth upon his death during a
training mission.
WHEREAS, Lt. Patrick Ruth was a native of Metairie, Louisiana, receiving his
diploma from Brother Martin High School where he was an outstanding athlete, competing
in football and track and field; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth soon began his college studies at Tulane University on a Naval
Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarship, majoring in mathematics and graduating in
2008; and
WHEREAS, while attending Tulane, Lt. Ruth also met his future fiancee and the love
of his life, Jessica Lauren Fugitt; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth received orders to report to the Aviation Preflight
Indoctrination in Pensacola, Florida, where all Naval Aviators are trained, and after
successfully completing API, reported to Training Squadron Twenty-Seven in Meridian,
Mississippi for Primary Flight Training in the T-34 and later to Training Squadron
Thirty-One; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth proudly earned his Naval Aviator wings in March of 2011, and
after more training was deployed to the Persian Gulf onboard the USS Harry S. Truman
Aircraft Carrier, where he bravely served his country in Operation Enduring Freedom from
June of 2013, to April of 2014, and was awarded "Top Hook" of the Air Wing in the E-2C
Hawkeye; and
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SR NO. 131 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth flew as a part of the tactical air forces of the U.S. Navy,
performing his primary mission as part of the early warning defense of his Carrier Battle
Group, as well as air strike control, ocean surveillance, and search and rescue coordination;
and
WHEREAS, after his combat tour of duty Lt. Ruth was recognized by his
commanders for his outstanding combat flying skills and was assigned to serve as an
instructor pilot at Training Squadron Seven, teaching combat flying techniques in the T-45C
Goshawk at the Naval Air Station Meridian; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth was later assigned to Training Squadron VT-7 Eagles, where
he was honored to teach the Naval Aviators of the future the many tactics and skills he had
learned during his distinguished career; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth was on a training mission Sunday, October 1, 2017, with
student naval aviator Lt. Junior Grade Wallace E. Burch when their Goshawk training jet
crashed in Tellico Plains, Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, Lt. Ruth was recognized by his commanders and fellow officers as a
very dedicated naval aviator, and among his many decorations earned were two awards of
the Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal, for his sustained superior performance.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its most sincere and profound condolences to the family of Lt. Ruth for
their immeasurable loss and also wish to recognize Lt. Ruth for his gallant service to his
country, both in combat and in the training of tomorrow's naval aviators.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Lt. Ruth's parents David and Mary Anne Ruth and his fiancee Jessica.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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