HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-162RESOLUTION 14-162
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
SUPPORTING THE APPLICATION TO NAME THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY STATE VETERANS' NURSING
HOME IN HONOR OF FORT PIERCE MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT, SERGEANT ARDIE R. COPAS
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, has made the
following determinations:
On Tuesday, September 23, 2014, St. Lucie County was officially awarded the site for the
new State Veterans' Nursing Home when Florida Governor Rick Scott and the cabinet
unanimously approved the recommendation by the Florida Department of Veterans'
Affairs (FDVA) to build the state's seventh veterans' nursing home on a 28.5 acre site in the
Tradition community of Port St. Lucie.
The 120-bed facility will employ roughly 190 people and will provide a place for our older
veterans to retire to without having to leave the Treasure Coast.
St. Lucie County supports the application to name the St. Lucie County State Veterans'
Nursing Home after Fort Pierce Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant Ardie R. Copas.
4. Sergeant Copas was born August 29, 1950 in Fort Pierce, Florida. Sergeant Copas was
awarded a Medal of Honor Citation for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Machine gunner in Company
C, 1st Battalion (Mechanized), 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division during combat
operations against an armed enemy near Ph Romeas Hek, Cambodia on May 12, 1970.
That morning, Sergeant Copas's company was suddenly attacked by a large hostile force
firing recoilless rifles, rocket-propelled grenades, and automatic weapons. As Sergeant
Copas began returning fire, his armored car was struck by an enemy recoilless round,
knocking him to the ground and injuring four American Soldiers beside the vehicle. Ignoring
his own wounds, Sergeant Copas quickly remounted the burning vehicle and commenced
firing his machine gun at the enemy. Braving the hostile fire directed at him and the
possible detonation of the mortar rounds inside the track, Sergeant Copas maintained a
heavy volume of suppressive fire on the foe while the wounded Americans were safely
evacuated. Undaunted, Sergeant Copas continued to place devastating volleys of fire upon
the adversary until he was mortally wounded when another enemy round hit his vehicle.
Sergeant Copas's daring action resulted in the safe evacuation of his comrades. Sergeant
Copas's extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and
beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and
reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
5. In addition to his Medal of Honor, Sergeant Copas earned the following awards: Bronze
Star Medal with Valor device and 1 Oak Leaf Cluster; Purple Heart Medal; Good Conduct
Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars;
Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm;
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
with Palm Unit Citation; Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal 1S` Class; Combat Infantry
Badge; and the Expert Marksmanship Badge with Automatic Rifle Bar.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie
County, Florida that this Board does support the application to name the St. Lucie County State
Veterans' Nursing Home after Fort Pierce Medal of Honor recipient, Sergeant Ardie R. Copas.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 7`h day of October, 2014.
ATTEST:
DEPUTY CLERK
BOARD OF CO TY COMMIS NERS
ST. LUCIE COY, FLORID ~
BY: ' i
CHAIR
APPROV D T FC
COUNTY ATT
NLy CORRECTNESS: