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2023 SESSION


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 290
Celebrating the life of Colonel Vance Justin Klosinski, USA.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 13, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Colonel Vance Justin Klosinski, USA, an honorable and respected veteran of the United States Army Special Forces whose unwavering sense of duty and purpose earned him the admiration of many, died on September 24, 2022; and

WHEREAS, a native of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Vance Klosinski embarked upon his distinguished military career when he joined the Wisconsin National Guard at the age of 17, and he received his commission through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1997, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and public administration; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski’s first assignment in the United States Army was as the infantry platoon leader of the 10th Mountain Division in Fort Drum, New York, and he later qualified to serve with the United States Army Special Forces, earning his Green Beret in 2003; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski spent the majority of his military career with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington, where his exceptional professionalism and talents as a leader and mentor were evident to all; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski’s honorable service to his country entailed assignments to both the Pentagon and the United States Army staff, as well as several special operations commands around the globe; his deployments over the years included Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Iraq, India, Afghanistan, and elsewhere; his final command was of United States Army Garrison Rheinland-Pfalz in Kaiserslautern, Germany, in July 2020; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski’s exemplary courage and sacrifice in service to his country were recognized through myriad military awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, three Joint Meritorious Unit Awards, an Army Valorous Unit Citation, an Army Superior Unit Award, two National Defense Service Medals, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and various other campaign medals, service medals, and badges; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski’s lifelong passion for learning led to a master’s degree in defense analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2009 and a master’s degree in national security strategy from the National War College in 2020; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of his service to the nation, Vance Klosinski will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery in January 2023; and

WHEREAS, Vance Klosinski will be fondly remembered and dearly missed by his loving wife of 16 years, Abigail; his children, Vance and Samuel; his parents, Gary and Patricia; and numerous other family members and friends; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Delegates hereby note with great sadness the loss of Colonel Vance Justin Klosinski, USA, a consummate family man, loyal friend, and dedicated soldier whose honor and integrity were an inspiration to all who knew him; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Colonel Vance Justin Klosinski, USA, as an expression of the House of Delegates’ respect for his memory.