Full Text of SR0945 97th General Assembly
SR0945 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to | 3 | | learn of the death of
United States Army Sergeant Merle Allen | 4 | | Dentino, who was killed in action in Vietnam on June 30, 1970; | 5 | | and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was born on October 15, 1948, | 7 | | in Peoria; he was a graduate of Spalding Catholic High School | 8 | | and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign before | 9 | | joining the United States Army in late 1969; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was killed in action on June | 11 | | 30, 1970 in Vietnam, following an accidental friendly fire | 12 | | incident; that same year, he was promoted posthumously to the | 13 | | rank of sergeant; he was also awarded the Air Medal, the Army | 14 | | Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the | 15 | | Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Metal, the Combat | 16 | | Infantryman Badge, and the Expert Badge with grenade, rifle, | 17 | | and automatic rifle bars prior to his death and was awarded the | 18 | | Bronze Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism and the | 19 | | Good Conduct Medal posthumously in 1970; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, After the Army Review Boards Agency received | 21 | | United States Representative Aaron Schock's request in 2011 for | 22 | | Sgt. Merle Dentino to receive the Purple Heart, his record was |
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| 1 | | again reviewed; the decision was made to award him the medal on | 2 | | April 3, 2012, along with the Army Commendation Medal with V | 3 | | Device, the Valorous Unit Award, the Vietnam Service Medal with | 4 | | 2 Bronze Service Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross | 5 | | with Palm Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil | 6 | | Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation; he was | 7 | | officially awarded the Purple Heart and his other medals on | 8 | | July 6, 2012; and
| 9 | | WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was the son of the late James | 10 | | and the late Ella (Mucciante) Dentino; the brother of Richard | 11 | | Dentino, the late Dr. Ronald Dentino, and Teresa Dentino; the | 12 | | brother-in-law of Rosemarie Dentino; the uncle of Maria | 13 | | Dentino; the uncle of Kathy Dentino; he also had 3 nieces, | 14 | | Michelle Dentino May, Diana, and Lisa, and 2 nephews, Scott | 15 | | Dentino and Fred Dentino; therefore, be it
| 16 | | RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL | 17 | | ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of | 18 | | United States Army Sergeant Merle Allen Dentino, honor him for | 19 | | his great bravery and willingness to serve his country, and | 20 | | express our heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifices made by | 21 | | Sgt. Dentino and all other service members to keep our nation | 22 | | safe; and be it further
| 23 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
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| 1 | | presented to the family of Sgt. Merle Dentino as an expression | 2 | | of our sympathy.
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