Bill Text: IL HR0487 | 2019-2020 | 101st General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Recognizes the life and service of Lt. Col. Iceal "Gene" Hambleton.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-10-28 - Resolution Adopted [HR0487 Detail]
Download: Illinois-2019-HR0487-Introduced.html
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| 1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Iceal "Gene" Hambleton, a Rossville | ||||||
| 3 | native and 1936 graduate of Wenona High School, served his | ||||||
| 4 | country in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton served in both World War II and | ||||||
| 6 | the Korean War but is best known for his 12-day struggle to | ||||||
| 7 | avoid capture by the North Vietnamese in 1972 after his | ||||||
| 8 | reconnaissance plane was shot down north of the DMZ; and
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| 9 | WHEREAS, The effort to rescue Lt. Col. Hambleton, who had | ||||||
| 10 | been injured during the bailout from his stricken plane, was | ||||||
| 11 | chronicled in a book and later a movie, BAT 21, in which he was | ||||||
| 12 | portrayed by Gene Hackman; and
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| 13 | WHEREAS, Knowing his communications were being monitored | ||||||
| 14 | by the North Vietnamese, Lt. Col. Hambleton, who was an avid | ||||||
| 15 | golfer, used references to golf courses in the U.S. to | ||||||
| 16 | communicate with those who were attempting to rescue him and to | ||||||
| 17 | keep his pursuers confused; and
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| 18 | WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton retired from the military in | ||||||
| 19 | 1973 and spent his retirement in Tucson, Arizona, close to a | ||||||
| 20 | golf course, a sport which literally saved his life; and
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| 1 | WHEREAS, Lt. Col. Hambleton was awarded the Silver Star, | ||||||
| 2 | the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, the Meritorious | ||||||
| 3 | Service Medal, and the Purple Heart; he passed away on | ||||||
| 4 | September 19, 2004; and
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| 5 | WHEREAS, 1st South Street in the City of Wenona is named in | ||||||
| 6 | his honor as "I.E. 'Gene' Hambleton Street"; therefore, be it
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| 7 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE | ||||||
| 8 | HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that | ||||||
| 9 | we recognize the life and service of Lt. Col. Iceal "Gene" | ||||||
| 10 | Hambleton; and be it further
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| 11 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
| 12 | presented to the family of Lt. Col. Hambleton as a symbol of | ||||||
| 13 | our respect and esteem.
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