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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the
5ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, SP4 William Eugene Campbell was born to Ida Marie
7and Kenneth Campbell on October 24, 1948; he was one of eight
8children along with his brother, Bob Campbell, and his six
9sisters, Sandy Painter, Betty Evans, Judy Buchanan, Joyce
10Borchers, Janet Barker, and Jeanne Taylor; and
 
11    WHEREAS, SP4 Campbell graduated in June of 1968 from
12Gibson City High School at a trying time for many young men due
13to the heavy involvement of the United States in the Vietnam
14War; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Like many others facing the draft, SP4 Campbell
16was called to serve in the U.S. Army on August 12, 1968; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Just under a year into his service on August 2,
181969, SP4 Campbell was killed in action, the first and only
19casualty from Gibson City; and
 
20    WHEREAS, SP4 Campbell received several recognitions for

 

 

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1his actions in Vietnam, including the Silver Star, which was
2presented to his mother Ida, for the time he "distinguished
3himself as a leader in Company B, First Airborne Battalion,
4501st Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, USARV, during a
5search and clear operation near the city of Tam Ky, Republic of
6Vietnam"; and
 
7    WHEREAS, In addition to his Silver Star, SP4 Campbell
8received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct
9Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service
10Medal with one Bronze Service Star, the Vietnam Campaign
11Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and
 
12    WHEREAS, SP4 Campbell's heroism and willingness to
13sacrifice his own well-being was an inspiration to his entire
14platoon; his bravery and devotion to duty and his fellow
15soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of
16military service; and
 
17    WHEREAS, SP4 Campbell's actions reflect positively on
18himself, his family, his unit, and the U.S. Army; therefore,
19be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
22REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois

 

 

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1Route 47 as it travels through Gibson City as the "Vietnam
2Veteran SP4 William Eugene Campbell Memorial Highway"; and be
3it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
5is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with
6State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
7giving notice of the name of the "SP4 William Eugene Campbell
8Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
9    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10presented to the family of SP4 Campbell, the Mayor of Gibson
11City, and the Secretary of Transportation.