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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | ||||||
3 | Representatives seek to honor all our veterans, especially | ||||||
4 | those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our | ||||||
5 | nation; and
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6 | WHEREAS, On April 22, 1968, Major Robert Paul Riggins of | ||||||
7 | the United States Air Force, 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, | ||||||
8 | was commanding a 2-aircraft flight from Da Nang Airbase, South | ||||||
9 | Vietnam; and
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10 | WHEREAS, Major Riggins had successfully flown 98 combat | ||||||
11 | missions over North Vietnam and was 2 missions away from | ||||||
12 | completing his tour of duty; and
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13 | WHEREAS, Major Riggins, determined to accomplish his | ||||||
14 | assigned mission, elected to fly despite poor weather | ||||||
15 | conditions over the area of operations; and
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16 | WHEREAS, Flying that day with First Lieutenant William | ||||||
17 | Chomyk of Hicksville, New York, Major Riggins' F-4D Phantom II | ||||||
18 | (Tail Number 66-8778) was hit by enemy ground fire and was lost | ||||||
19 | over Thua Thien Province near the city of Hue; and
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20 | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was a highly decorated military |
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1 | aviator, having seen combat in both Korea and Vietnam; he | ||||||
2 | earned the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the | ||||||
3 | Purple Heart, and the Air Medal for his meritorious service; he | ||||||
4 | was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korea | ||||||
5 | Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force | ||||||
6 | Longevity Award, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross - Unit Citation, | ||||||
7 | and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and
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8 | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was a native of Champaign and was an | ||||||
9 | alumnus of the University of Illinois at Champaign - Urbana; he | ||||||
10 | earned his bachelor's degree from the College of Commerce and | ||||||
11 | Business Administration in 1952 and his master's degree from | ||||||
12 | the College of Engineering in 1964; and | ||||||
13 | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was survived by his wife, Betty Sue, | ||||||
14 | and his daughters, Amy and Paula; and
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15 | WHEREAS, We commemorate the 45th anniversary of Major | ||||||
16 | Riggins and First Lieutenant Chomyk's listing as Missing In | ||||||
17 | Action, hold a solemn vigil for their return to American soil, | ||||||
18 | and give the highest honor to their courage, duty, and | ||||||
19 | sacrifice for their nation in armed aerial combat by engaging | ||||||
20 | enemy forces; therefore, be it | ||||||
21 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
22 | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
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1 | we, along with their families, friends, and a nation grateful | ||||||
2 | for their sacrifice in its defense, mourn the loss of Major | ||||||
3 | Robert Riggins and First Lieutenant William Chomyk; and be it | ||||||
4 | further
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5 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
6 | presented to the family of Major Riggins as an expression of | ||||||
7 | our remembrance of his steadfast devotion to the principles of | ||||||
8 | duty, honor, and country.
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