Senate Concurrent Resolution 645

(As Adopted by Senate)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING THE HISTORIC MILITARY SERVICE OF WORLD WAR II VETERAN LIEUTENANT COMMANDER GEORGE T. MERCIER OF COPIAH COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ON THE OCCASION OF HIS 100TH BIRTHDAY.

WHEREAS, it is with great humility that we remember the historic military service of World War II Veteran George T. Mercier of Beauregard/Wesson, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, George T. Mercier, Jr. was born on May 5, 1917, in Beauregard, Copiah County, Mississippi. After graduating from Wesson High School in 1935, he went to Louisiana State University and graduated in Chemical Engineering in 1939; and

WHEREAS, he was employed by the Ethyl Corporation in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, when the United States instituted the Draft in preparation for World War II. Not wanting to be drafted, Mr. Mercier applied for the Naval Officers Training School and was accepted and reported for duty at Fort Schuyler, New York, in 1941; and

WHEREAS, upon completion of his training and indoctrination, he was commissioned by Ensign USNR. His first assignment was an Ordnance Inspector at the Naval Inspection Office in Hamilton, Ohio. After one year there, he received orders to report to Moffitt Field, California, to wait for passage to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides Island Chain in the South Pacific. These islands were very close to Australia and had been made safe by the Battle of Guadalcanal and other battles up the line; and

WHEREAS, for two years, he and his shipmates provided help and Ordnance to ships and aircraft in this area of the South Pacific. After his New Hebrides tour, he was transferred to the Bureau of Ordnances for the Navy Department for a year in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mercier was stationed in Washington, D.C., when the war ended; and

WHEREAS, he was discharged as a Lieutenant Commander in March 1946, but he continued to serve his country in the Navy Reserve for several years. While in Washington, D.C., he met and married Dorothy Ragland from Elmhurst, Illinois. On February 10, 2017, they celebrated their 71st Anniversary; and

WHEREAS, the Merciers have five children, ten grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. George and Dottie moved back home 45 years ago from Houston, Texas, to Mr. Mercier's hometown of Beauregard/Wesson, where they are living a quiet life. On May 8, 2017, George Mercier will turn 100 years young; and

WHEREAS, George was born when Woodrow Wilson was President of the United States of America. Mr. Mercier's life has spanned the administration of 17 United States Presidents and 26 Mississippi Governors from Theodore G. Bilbo to Phil Bryant. This family icon witnessed many historic events during his lifetime, including the invention of the automobile by Henry Ford, the Wright Brothers' first airplane flight, and man's walk on the moon:

WHEREAS, World War II was a time when the world asked ordinary men to do extraordinary things. The members of the "Greatest Generation" and their remarkable actions during times of war and peace, allowed the United States to prosper economically, politically and culturally because of their sacrifices. His legacy is a strong and free America, and for this a lifetime of selfless service, a grateful nation and state thank George Mercier:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize the historic military service of World War II Veteran Lieutenant Commander George T. Mercier of Copiah County, Mississippi, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, and extend to Mr. Mercier and his family the thanks of a grateful nation and state.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Lieutenant Commander George T. Mercier and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.