92_HR1168

 
                                              LRB9208884KFkfB

 1                          HOUSE RESOLUTION

 2        WHEREAS, The members of this General Assembly are honored
 3    to recognize veterans of the United States military from  the
 4    State of Illinois; and

 5        WHEREAS,  Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop was born on January
 6    11, 1925 in Gillespie, Illinois to the late Walter L.  Bishop
 7    Sr. and Mary Burke Bishop; and

 8        WHEREAS,  Colonel  Thomas  Burke  Bishop  graduated  from
 9    Litchfield  Community  High  School; he earned his bachelor's
10    degree from Eastern  Illinois  University  and  his  master's
11    degree  at Sangamon State University; in addition he attended
12    the Army Air Corps Basic Training, On the Line Army Air Corps
13    Training, USAAC Pre-Flight School, USAAC  Navigation  School,
14    Crew  Assuagement,  B17 Phase Training, Loran School, Weather
15    School, US Army Infantry School, Command  and  General  Staff
16    College,  United  States  Army  Logistical Management School,
17    Norwich University, and Millikin University; and

18        WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas  Burke  Bishop  enlisted  in  the
19    United  States Army Air Corps on August 13, 1943, and retired
20    on February 1, 1982; he  proudly  served  his  country  as  a
21    navigator  during  World War II as well as serving during the
22    Korean  and  Vietnam  conflicts;  he  was  commissioned   2nd
23    Lieutenant of the United States Army Air Corps on December 9,
24    1944  at the age of nineteen and was promoted to full Colonel
25    on November 23, 1966, at the age of 41; and

26        WHEREAS, During his career in  the  United  States  Army,
27    Colonel  Thomas  Burke  Bishop  commanded  Hv  Mort Co, 130th
28    Infantry Regiment,  44th  Infantry  Division  upon  entry  on
29    Federal Active Duty from Litchfield, Illinois on February 15,
30    1952;  Colonel  Bishop  is  one  of only two men to have ever
31    taken  a  Company  into  Federal  Service  from   Litchfield,
32    Illinois;  he also served as Company Commander and S-3, Plans
 
                            -2-               LRB9208884KFkfB
 1    and Operations of the 223rd Infantry Regiment  in  combat  in
 2    Korea,  Heart  Break  Ridge, No Name Ridge, Punch Bowl, Inji,
 3    and Kumwa; in addition, he served as chairman of  the  United
 4    States Property and Fiscal Officers, NGB, and at the Pentagon
 5    and  was  established as the First Commandant of the Illinois
 6    Officer Candidate School; and

 7        WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop has been  affiliated
 8    with  several organizations, including as a 50 year member of
 9    AF&AM #236 in Litchfield, a 32nd Degree Mason at  the  Valley
10    of  Springfield, Illinois, a member of the Ansar Shrine, a 50
11    year member of the American Legion Post #436, a  life  member
12    of  the  Retired Officer Association; and he served as a past
13    member of the VFW, the Elks Lodge, Oakcreat Country Club, and
14    Scott AFB Officers Club; and

15        WHEREAS, During his outstanding career  with  the  United
16    States  Army,  Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop earned many awards
17    and commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the  Combat
18    Infantryman's  Badge,  the Aerial Navigation Wings, the Eagle
19    Award, the WWII Victory Medal, the Army  Commendation  Medal,
20    the  United  Nations  Service  Medal,  the  National  Defense
21    Service  Medal,  the  Illinois  Military  Medal of Merit, the
22    Illinois Active Duty  Ribbon,  the  Bronze  Star  Medal,  the
23    Meritorious  Service  Medal,  the  Korean  Presidential  Unit
24    Citation,  the  American  Campaign  Medal,  the  Good Conduct
25    Medal, the Armed Forces Medal, the Korean Service Medal,  the
26    Virgin  Islands  Meritorious  Service Medal, and the Illinois
27    Long and Honorable Service Ribbon; therefore, be it

28        RESOLVED,  BY  THE  HOUSE  OF  REPRESENTATIVES   OF   THE
29    NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
30    we  recognize  Colonel  Thomas Burke Bishop for having served
31    the United States Army, the citizens  of  Illinois,  and  the
32    city  of Litchfield, Illinois with such great distinction and
33    courage; and be it further
 
                            -3-               LRB9208884KFkfB
 1        RESOLVED, That a suitable  copy  of  this  resolution  be
 2    presented  to the family of Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop as an
 3    expression of our esteem.