Senate Resolution No. 4393

BY: Senator MARCHIONE

HONORING Lieutenant Colonel John Brownrigg upon
the occasion of his designation as recipient of the
Home Town Hero Award by the Reverend Francis A.
Kelley Society of Saint Joseph's Church

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those within our midst who have made
significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

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

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Lieutenant
Colonel John Brownrigg upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the Home Town Hero Award by the Reverend Francis A. Kelley Society of
Saint Joseph's Church, to be celebrated at its 5th Annual Award Ceremony
on Saturday, May 19, 2018, at the East Greenbush YMCA; and

WHEREAS, John Brownrigg began his illustrious career in the United
States Army as a ROTC Cadet at Cornell University in June of 1963; after
graduation, he was commissioned an infantry second lieutenant on June
26, 1967, and was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division as a rifle
platoon leader; and

WHEREAS, Upon completion of Officer's Basic and Airborne Schools,
John Brownrigg deployed with the 101st Airborne to Vietnam, on November
27, 1967, with 1/501st Infantry Battalion as advanced party commander to
secure the unit's base camp at Chu Chi, RVN, and subsequently moving to
Camp Eagle in Quang Tri Provence in Northern I Corps; and

WHEREAS, The 1/501 Battalion was heavily involved in the defense and
recapturing of Hue City, Quang Tri Provence during the Tet Offensive in
February of 1968; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant John Brownrigg was then sent to Advisor's School
and Military Language School in Monterey, California; after being
promoted to Captain in 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam as an A-team
multi-national advisory team leader with Military Area Command
Vietnam-Special Operations Group-MACV-SOG; and

WHEREAS, In this capacity, Captain John Brownrigg assisted the
Vietnamese Regular Army units with training and military operations
against the enemy; during the assignment, a platoon of the Vietnamese
Battalion for which he was the advisor became entrapped by a large enemy
force; and

WHEREAS, Captain John Brownrigg directed two gun ships and a
transport helicopter to provide suppressing artillery fire at the enemy;
although severely wounded, he was able to direct the gunships and
fighter jets with close air and artillery fire, allowing the soldiers to
be evacuated on the transport helicopter; and


WHEREAS, This brave soldier went back to Vietnam in 1970, on a
special tour with MACV-SOG to look for Prisoners of War; he spent four
months looking for missing patriots and an Air Force pilot who had been
shot down flying an observation mission for him; and

WHEREAS, For his honorable and courageous service during the Vietnam
War, Captain John Brownrigg was awarded the Silver Star, two Bronze
Stars, two Purple Hearts, three Commendation Medals, the Combat Infantry
Badge, Parachute Badge, and Army Campaign Ribbon with 14 campaign
devices, five Unit Citation Medals, two Vietnamese Crosses of Gallantry
with palm device, and the New York State Conspicuous Service Medal from
Governor Nelson Rockefeller; and

WHEREAS, After valiantly serving five years on Active Duty, Captain
John Brownrigg joined the United States National Guard and the Army
Reserves where he held various command and staff positions; he retired
from the service after 27 total years in the military, achieving the
rank of Lieutenant Colonel; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Lieutenant Colonel John Brownrigg was a
national petroleum sales manager for major oil companies for 39 years as
well as a distributor sales manager for six years; he retired in 2015,
and currently does environmental and real estate consulting; and

WHEREAS, A resident of West Sand Lake, Lieutenant Colonel John
Brownrigg has actively served the Sand Lake Kiwanis for more 30 years as
a member, Club President, Distinguished Lieutenant Governor, and
three-time District Chair; and

WHEREAS, With him throughout has been his wife, who has shown him
love and support and rejoices in his many achievements; 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, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Lieutenant Colonel John Brownrigg upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the Home Town Hero Award by the Reverend
Francis A. Kelley Society of Saint Joseph's Church; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Lieutenant Colonel John Brownrigg.