Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HJR0012
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Full Text of HJR0012  103rd General Assembly

HJ0012 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
HJ0012LRB103 30167 MST 56594 r

1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to veterans who have served
4their country and the State of Illinois; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Private First Class Ralph E. Snell was a member
6of the 136th Infantry, 33rd Division of the U.S. Army; he
7entered into service on April 22, 1942, and he was stationed at
8various camps in the United States until he went overseas on
9July 5, 1943; he served in the New Guinea and Philippine
10campaigns and returned to the United States on November 4,
111945; he was honorably discharged at Camp Grant on November
1224, 1945; and
 
13    WHEREAS, On May 6, 1945, the 136th Infantry was met by
14heavy mortar, machine gun, and rifle fire from the flanks and
15from caves on the reverse slope; as it reached the crest of the
16hill, a machine gun on the right flank opened fire and wounded
17four men; PFC Snell moved forward alone and destroyed the
18weapon and its crew; he then directed his fellow soldiers in
19destroying three Japanese strong points; although wounded
20himself, he led his fellow soldiers forward, secured the enemy
21positions, captured the hill, and only then allowed himself to
22be evacuated; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, On June 9, 1946, PFC Snell was awarded the
2Distinguished Service Cross, the army's second highest award
3for conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty;
4along with the cross, he received the Good Conduct Medal, the
5American Campaign Ribbon, the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon with two
6Bronze Battle Stars, the Philippine Liberation Medal with one
7Bronze Battle Star, and the Purple Heart; and
 
8    WHEREAS, PFC Snell displayed inspiring leadership,
9indomitable fighting spirit, and heroic effort despite his
10wounds; therefore, be it
 
11    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
12HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
13SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the Utica River
14Bridge as the "Ralph E. Snell Memorial Bridge"; and be it
15further
 
16    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
17is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
18State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
19giving notice of the name of the "Ralph E. Snell Memorial
20Bridge"; and be it further
 
21    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
22presented to the family of PFC Snell and the Secretary of the

 

 

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1Illinois Department of Transportation.