HR1565 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1565 LRB095 22760 GRL 53185 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to thank Dick Young for his dedicated service to his nation in the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Dick Young entered active service with the U.S. Marine Corps on February 15, 1943 in Chicago; after training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, he was assigned to the 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 5th Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division for training at Camp Tarawa in Hawaii; and

WHEREAS, Dick Young and his battalion landed on Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, with the first wave during D-Day; during the course of the battle, he served as the platoon runner; shortly after the landing, he found himself leading his platoon due to the deaths of the platoon leader and most of the responsible non-commissioned officers; near the end of the battle, Mr. Young and his platoon participated in the raising of the first American flag on Mount Suribachi; and

WHEREAS, On 16 March 16, 1945, Dick Young was wounded by a round from Japanese gunfire, which struck his K-Bar just below the hilt, with the resulting shrapnel entering his right hip; he was evacuated to an offshore hospital ship and informed by one of the doctors that he would be going home, as he had received a "million dollar wound"; shortly after receiving treatment for his wound, Mr. Young was asked to return to the fight and he willingly did so; and

WHEREAS, On March 22, 1945, Dick Young was again wounded by shrapnel from a Japanese grenade and was evacuated for the final time; after his evacuation, he returned to the United States and began recuperating from his wounds at a Naval Hospital in Seattle, Washington; after his recovery, he was assigned to the Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Virginia and was assigned as a guard for the Lincoln Memorial in order to prevent continuing vandalism; while stationed at Quantico, he had the honor of attending a performance of the opera at the Washington, D.C. Opera House with President Harry Truman and the Chief of Naval Operations; and

WHEREAS, On November 9, 1945, Dick Young was honorably discharged with the rank of Private First Class and was awarded the Purple Heart, his 2nd award; and

WHEREAS, After his discharge, Dick Young attended college and received his master's degree in psychology; while attending college, Mr. Young worked in the construction field and participated in the building of the 1st Oswego Bank and the Aurora Hotel; he also served as the first Building/Zoning Director of Kendall County and was largely responsible for many of the wastewater treatment plants along the Fox River in both Kendall and Kane Counties; he was also actively involved with the Kendall County schools, giving lectures about the Battle of Iwo Jima; and

WHEREAS, Dick Young is a member of numerous organizations, including the Marine Corps League (Fox Valley Detachment 1233), the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Montgomery, and the American Legion in Oswego; and

WHEREAS, Dick Young was married to his loving wife, Charlene, until she passed away 21 years ago; together, they have four children, David, Scott, Linda, and Carol; he also has seven grandchildren, Anthony, Scott, Gregory, Nicholas, Melanie, Lisa, and Allison, and two great-grandchildren, Alexia and Dylan; and

WHEREAS, Dick Young's great courage and devotion to his country are worthy of the greatest respect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we thank Dick Young for his dedicated service to his nation in the battle of Iwo Jima during World War II and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dick Young as a symbol of our esteem and respect.