WHEREAS, United States Marine Corps Master Sergeant Jerome David Hatfield of Axton was killed in the line of duty on July 11, 2009, while valiantly serving his country in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Jerome David Hatfield grew up in Pittsylvania County, graduated from Tunstall High School in Brosville, Virginia, and married his loving wife, Angela Dawn Jefferson, and the couple have three wonderful children; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Hatfield joined the Marine Corps in June 1991 and planned to make military service his career; he served in the Adriatic Sea from 1992 to 2000, in Iraq from 2006 to 2008, and was deployed to Afghanistan in June 2009; and

WHEREAS, a hero and inspiration to his fellow Marines, Master Sergeant Hatfield was a proud member of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, based at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and

WHEREAS, an accomplished and proven leader, Master Sergeant Hatfield was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Combat Action Ribbon and many campaign, unit, and service distinctions; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Hatfield enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, camping, and riding his motorcycle; and he drew people to him with his positive outlook and engaging personality; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Hatfield was fiercely devoted to his family and his country, and he will be greatly missed by his family, his many good friends, and faithful comrades; and

WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Hatfield's death is a reminder of the hazards faced daily by the thousands of Americans who serve in our armed forces overseas and whose devotion to duty places them in harm's way; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of a courageous and patriotic Virginian, Master Sergeant Jerome David Hatfield; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Master Sergeant Jerome David Hatfield as an expression of the high regard in which his memory is held by the members of the General Assembly and the citizens of Virginia.