HR1032 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1032 LRB098 21019 GRL 58715 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to honor James Pfafflin for his service to his country in the United States Merchant Marine from 1944 to 1948; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, the ships and men of the United States Merchant Marine transported across the oceans of the world the vast quantities of war materiel, supplies, equipment, and troops needed to fight and win the war; the men of the United States Merchant Marine were civilian volunteers who nonetheless died proportionally in numbers that rivaled or exceeded any branch of the uniformed military; like the United States Navy Armed Guard with whom they sailed, the unsung men of the United States Merchant Marine made possible the Allied victory in World War II; and

WHEREAS, During World War II, United States Merchant Marine ships faced danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders and destroyers, aircraft, "kamikaze", and the elements; about 8,300 mariners were killed at sea, 12,000 were wounded, of whom at least 1,100 died from their wounds, and 663 men and women were taken prisoner; one in 26 mariners serving aboard merchant ships in World War II died in the line of duty, suffering a greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other United States services; casualties were kept secret during the war to keep information about their success from the enemy; and

WHEREAS, James Pfafflin's first voyage with the United States Merchant Marine was on a ship that left out of San Francisco; the ships brought barrels of gasoline to small islands in the Pacific that couldn't store it, allowing planes that landed on the island to fuel up; the ships also brought blankets, food, and other supplies to people on the islands; and

WHEREAS, James Pfafflin serves as a model 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-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor James Pfafflin for his service to his country in the United States Merchant Marine; and be it further

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