Bill Text: IL HR0456 | 2015-2016 | 99th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Recognizes George Klein for his service during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944 and wishes him well on his trip to Normandy on June 6, 2015.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2015-05-07 - Resolution Adopted [HR0456 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2015-HR0456-Introduced.html

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HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to recognize George Klein for his
service during the D-Day invasion on June 6, 1944; and
WHEREAS, George Klein was born in Detroit, Michigan; he and
his mother moved to the Chicago area when he was 2 years old;
in February of 1938, shortly after completing high school, he
enlisted in the United States Army National Guard and was
assigned to a horse-drawn artillery unit; he was subsequently
transferred to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he completed Officer
Candidate School; afterwards, he volunteered to join the 2nd
Ranger Battalion in April of 1943; and
WHEREAS, After training at Camp Forrest in Tennessee with
the 5th Ranger Battalion, George Klein and his division were
sent overseas to undergo extensive training on the Isle of
Wight and in Devonshire, England; on the Isle of Wight, the men
endured rigorous training as they prepared for the cliff
assault that they would face when landing at Pointe Du Hoc;
during a training run of scaling the cliffs, he fell and broke
his ankle, causing him to spend several months recuperating
from the fracture; after recovering from his injury, he was
then placed in the 5th Ranger Battalion and traveled with this
unit to Ireland for additional training; in February of 1944,

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he was reunited with the 2nd Ranger Battalion; and
WHEREAS, On June 6, 1944, George Klein was onboard Landing
Craft Assault #884 heading towards the amphibious landing at
Pointe Du Hoc in Normandy, France; as a Second Lieutenant, he
was the platoon leader for Fox Company; rough waves made an
accurate landing nearly impossible for the armed forces set to
land on the beach that morning; once at Pointe Du Hoc, the
enemy forces began firing at full force, forcing the men to
quickly alter the plan they had spent months preparing for;
forced to improvise, he rushed through and began scaling the
100-foot cliff; once on top, he continued the battle; later
that afternoon, he was wounded by an attack from a German
soldier, who punctured his right leg with his bayonet; for 2
days, Mr. Klein had to wait to be evacuated from the
battlefield and was only able to wrap his wounded leg in a
bandage until he was able to receive proper medical attention;
he was subsequently sent to recover in a field hospital in
England for a month before he was sent back over to France to
fight with the 5th Ranger Battalion in July of 1944; he
continued to fight with this division until France was
liberated on August 19, 1944; he was the recipient of 2 Purple
Hearts for his valiant actions during the war; and
WHEREAS, After the war, George Klein returned home to
Chicago, married his wife, Barbara, and raised a son and

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daughter; he spent another 15 years in the United States Army
Reserve before retiring around 1960, having attained the rank
of Captain; he later embarked on a career in the lighting
business through a company called Lightolier, remaining there
until 1986; following his retirement, he continued to help
people by volunteering through the Service Corps of Retired
Executives for 20 years, helping small businesses succeed in
the business world; and
WHEREAS, George Klein was invited to the major anniversary
celebration of the D-Day invasion on June 6, 2014, but fell ill
and was unable to make the trip; he plans to complete the trip
in 2015 during the 71st anniversary of the D-Day invasion; and
WHEREAS, George Klein's patriotism and courage serves as a
model for the members of this body and the people of the State
of Illinois; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
recognize George Klein for his service during the D-Day
invasion on June 6, 1944 and wish him well on his trip to
Normandy on June 6, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to George Klein as a symbol of our esteem and

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respect.