HR1567

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

 
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    WHEREAS, The battle of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945 
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as a push into one of Japan's final strongholds in the Pacific 
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region; the U.S. invasion began with a Marine force of over 
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30,000 soldiers, with 40,000 more Marines following throughout 
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the battle; by the battle's end, the U.S. Marines suffered 
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27,909 casualties, with 6,825 Marines killed during the 
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assault; of the 21,000 Japanese embedded at Iwo Jima, only 297 
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were still living by the battle's end; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Futymoski entered active service with the 
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U.S. Marine Corps on December 22, 1943; after training at the 
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Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, he was 
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assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 2nd Battalion, 28th 
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Marines of the 5th Marine Division for training at Camp Tarawa, 
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Hawaii; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Futymoski and his battalion landed on Iwo 
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Jima on February 19, 1945, with the third wave during D-Day; 
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during the course of the battle, he was slightly wounded in his 
 


 






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ankle but refused medical attention; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After leaving Iwo Jima at the battle's end, Donald 
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Futymoski returned to Camp Tarawa; he then participated in the 
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occupation of the Japanese mainland from November 30, 1945 
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until June 14, 1946, when he returned to the United States; on 
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February 9, 1947, he was honorably discharged with the rank of 
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Corporal; and

 
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    WHEREAS, After his honorable discharge, Donald Futymoski 
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worked for a construction company and a sprinkler company; he 
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also served with the Aurora Fire Department for over 22 years; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Futymoski is a member of numerous 
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organizations, including the Marine Corps League (Fox Valley 
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Detachment 1233), the Phoenix Club in Aurora, the Veterans of 
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Foreign Wars in Montgomery, the American Legion in Sugar Grove, 
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and the Moose in St. Charles; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Donald Futymoski and his wife of 55 years, 
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Margaret, have two children, William and Scott, and two 
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grandchildren, Jennifer and Heather; and

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


 






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it

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

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