THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY BREWSTER, OCTOBER 16, 2012

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, OCTOBER 16, 2012  

A RESOLUTION

Expressing condolences on the loss of Marine Lieutenant Colonel

Christopher "Otis" Raible, a native of Irwin, Westmoreland

County, who was killed while supporting combat operations in

Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on September 15, 2012, at 40

years of age.

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Colonel Raible was commanding officer of

Marine Attack Squadron 211, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine

Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, based in Yuma,

Arizona; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Raible's military record includes service

in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi

Freedom; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Raible graduated from Norwin High School in

the top seventh percentile of his class; and

WHEREAS, He attended Carnegie Mellon University, earning a

civil engineering degree; and

WHEREAS, A dedicated aviator, Lt. Col. Raible received his

commission in 1995 and amassed more than 2,000 hours in Harrier

strike aircraft; and

WHEREAS, Before his tragic death, this valiant soldier

received numerous military honors, including the Meritorious

Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal;

and

WHEREAS, He will posthumously be awarded a Purple Heart, a

Bronze Star, a Combat Action Ribbon and an Air Medal with Strike

15 award; and

WHEREAS, Memorial services honoring Lt. Col. Raible were held

at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma's chapel and at Camp Bastion in

Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Raible was interred at Arlington National

Cemetery following a funeral service at Fort Myer Memorial

Chapel; and

WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Raible's survivors include his wife,

Donella, three children and his parents, Alvin and Kim Raible;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate express condolences on the loss of

Marine Lieutenant Colonel Christopher "Otis" Raible, a native of

Irwin, Westmoreland County, who was killed while supporting

combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, on September

15, 2012, at 40 years of age.