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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the
5ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, William Eugene Campbell was born to Ida Marie and
7Kenneth Campbell on October 24, 1948; he was one of eight
8children along with his brother, Robert Dean Campbell, and his
9six sisters, Sandy Painter, Betty Evans, Judy Buchanan, Joyce
10Borchers, Janet Barker, and Jeanne Taylor; and
 
11    WHEREAS, William Eugene Campbell graduated in June of 1968
12from Gibson City High School at a trying time for many young
13men due to the heavy involvement of the United States in the
14Vietnam War; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Like many others facing the draft, William Eugene
16Campbell was called to serve in the U.S. Army on August 12,
171968; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Just under a year into his service on August 2,
191969, William Eugene Campbell was killed in action, the first
20and only casualty from Gibson City; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, William Eugene Campbell received several
2recognitions for his actions in Vietnam, including the Silver
3Star, which was presented to his mother Ida, for the time he
4"distinguished himself as a leader in Company B, First Airborne
5Battalion 501st Infantry during a search and clear operation
6near the city of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam"; and
 
7    WHEREAS, In addition to his Silver Star, William Eugene
8Campbell received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good
9Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam
10Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and the Combat
11Infantryman Badge; and
 
12    WHEREAS, William Eugene Campbell's heroism and willingness
13to sacrifice his own well-being was an inspiration to his
14entire platoon; his bravery and devotion to duty and his fellow
15soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of
16military service; and
 
17    WHEREAS, William Eugene Campbell's actions reflect
18positively on himself, his family, his unit, and the U.S. Army;
19therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
21HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
22SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 47

 

 

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1as it travels through Gibson City as the "Vietnam Veteran
2William Eugene Campbell Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
4is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with
5State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
6giving notice of the name of the "Vietnam Veteran William
7Eugene Campbell Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
8    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
9presented to the family of William Eugene Campbell, the Mayor
10of Gibson City, and the Secretary of Transportation.