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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, a Rossville
3native and 1936 graduate of Wenona High School, served his
4country in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton served in both World War II and
6the Korean War but is best known for his 12-day struggle to
7avoid capture by the North Vietnamese in 1972 after his
8reconnaissance plane was shot down north of the DMZ; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The effort to rescue Lt. Col. Hambleton, who had
10been injured during the bailout from his stricken plane, was
11chronicled in a book and later a movie, BAT 21, in which he was
12portrayed by Gene Hackman; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Knowing his communications were being monitored
14by the North Vietnamese, Lt. Col. Hambleton, who was an avid
15golfer, used references to golf courses in the U.S. to
16communicate with those who were attempting to rescue him and to
17keep his pursuers confused; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton retired from the military in
191973 and spent his retirement in Tucson, Arizona, close to a
20golf course, a sport which literally saved his life; and
 

 

 

HR0487- 2 -LRB101 13587 MST 62440 r

1    WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton was awarded the Silver Star,
2the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious
3Service Medal, and the Purple Heart; he passed away on
4September 19, 2004; and
 
5    WHEREAS, 1st South Street in the City of Wenona is named in
6his honor as "I.E. 'Gene' Hambleton Street"; therefore, be it
 
7    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
8HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
9we recognize the life and service of Lt. Col. Iceal "Gene"
10Hambleton; and be it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12presented to the family of Lt. Col. Hambleton as a symbol of
13our respect and esteem.