HR0612 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0612 LRB097 14686 GRL 59639 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to congratulate Edwin J. Fizer and the members of the Montford Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress on October 25, 2011; and

WHEREAS, When the United States entered World War II in December of 1941, Edwin Fizer, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, joined approximately 20,000 other recruits who became the first African-Americans to enlist in the United States Marine Corps; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Fizer left segregated Louisiana to begin boot camp, only to be met with the full hostility of his drill instructors at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; despite constant insults and insidious racism, he underwent training in field artillery and anti-aircraft weapons at Montford Point, a strip of land near Camp Lejeune that was used to train African-American soldiers during the war; through his efforts, he rose to the rank of Sergeant, which was the highest rank an African-American could earn during that era; and

WHEREAS, After basic training, Edwin Fizer was retained at Montford Point, along with 300 fellow Marines who comprised the 52nd Composite Defense Battalion; other soldiers at Montford Point were assembled into Ammo Depot Companies, which were eventually assigned to Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and other areas of combat in the Pacific; in early 1944, the entire 52nd Battalion shipped out, making their first landing at the Marshall Islands; the battalion was later sent to the Mariana Islands, about 400 miles from Japan; and

WHEREAS, In spite of their bravery under fire and unwavering devotion to victory, Edwin Fizer and his fellow Montford Point Marines were subjected to racism wherever they went; military transportation remained segregated to the extent that black Marines were even ordered to give up their seats to German prisoners of war; food service was often refused and threats and racial epithets were commonly used to taunt them; and

WHEREAS, After the end of World War II in 1945, Edwin Fizer was discharged, returning to New Orleans where Jim Crow remained alive and well; although he served his country with honor, he found little support from the military as he sought to make his transition to civilian life; he later made his way to Chicago where, with the help of the GI Bill, he enrolled and completed his training at the Illinois College of Optometry; he subsequently joined the Chicago Police Department, served as a teacher, and launched a successful business career; and

WHEREAS, In 1965, Edwin Fizer assisted in the early formation of the Montford Point Marine Association (MPMA); he was also instrumental in spearheading the formation of the Montford Point Marine Association Advisory Board, which was established to provide fundraising assistance for MPMA's Chicago Chapter, one of 37 Chapters nationwide; the Board has made significant strides in raising greater public awareness about the Montford Point Marines and the many selfless sacrifices they made on behalf of their country; and

WHEREAS, On October 25, 2011, the United States Congress voted to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian honor given by Congress, to the Montford Point Marines in recognition of their service in protecting our nation; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Montford Point Marines serve as models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Edwin J. Fizer and the members of the Montford Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the Congressional Gold Medal and wish them success and happiness in the future; and be it further

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