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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are pleased to congratulate Edwin J. Fizer and
4the members of the Montford Point Marines on the occasion of
5receiving the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States
6Congress on October 25, 2011; and
 
7    WHEREAS, When the United States entered World War II in
8December of 1941, Edwin Fizer, a native of New Orleans,
9Louisiana, joined approximately 20,000 other recruits who
10became the first African-Americans to enlist in the United
11States Marine Corps; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Edwin Fizer left segregated Louisiana to begin
13boot camp, only to be met with the full hostility of his drill
14instructors at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; despite constant
15insults and insidious racism, he underwent training in field
16artillery and anti-aircraft weapons at Montford Point, a strip
17of land near Camp Lejeune that was used to train
18African-American soldiers during the war; through his efforts,
19he rose to the rank of Sergeant, which was the highest rank an
20African-American could earn during that era; and
 
21    WHEREAS, After basic training, Edwin Fizer was retained at
22Montford Point, along with 300 fellow Marines who comprised the

 

 

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152nd Composite Defense Battalion; other soldiers at Montford
2Point were assembled into Ammo Depot Companies, which were
3eventually assigned to Tarawa, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and other
4areas of combat in the Pacific; in early 1944, the entire 52nd
5Battalion shipped out, making their first landing at the
6Marshall Islands; the battalion was later sent to the Mariana
7Islands, about 400 miles from Japan; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In spite of their bravery under fire and
9unwavering devotion to victory, Edwin Fizer and his fellow
10Montford Point Marines were subjected to racism wherever they
11went; military transportation remained segregated to the
12extent that black Marines were even ordered to give up their
13seats to German prisoners of war; food service was often
14refused and threats and racial epithets were commonly used to
15taunt them; and
 
16    WHEREAS, After the end of World War II in 1945, Edwin Fizer
17was discharged, returning to New Orleans where Jim Crow
18remained alive and well; although he served his country with
19honor, he found little support from the military as he sought
20to make his transition to civilian life; he later made his way
21to Chicago where, with the help of the GI Bill, he enrolled and
22completed his training at the Illinois College of Optometry; he
23subsequently joined the Chicago Police Department, served as a
24teacher, and launched a successful business career; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, In 1965, Edwin Fizer assisted in the early
2formation of the Montford Point Marine Association (MPMA); he
3was also instrumental in spearheading the formation of the
4Montford Point Marine Association Advisory Board, which was
5established to provide fundraising assistance for MPMA's
6Chicago Chapter, one of 37 Chapters nationwide; the Board has
7made significant strides in raising greater public awareness
8about the Montford Point Marines and the many selfless
9sacrifices they made on behalf of their country; and
 
10    WHEREAS, On October 25, 2011, the United States Congress
11voted to grant the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest
12civilian honor given by Congress, to the Montford Point Marines
13in recognition of their service in protecting our nation; and
 
14    WHEREAS, The members of the Montford Point Marines serve as
15models of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people
16of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we congratulate Edwin J. Fizer and the members of the Montford
20Point Marines on the occasion of receiving the Congressional
21Gold Medal and wish them success and happiness in the future;
22and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to Edwin Fizer as a symbol of our esteem and respect.