HJ0037 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0037 LRB102 18219 ECR 25850 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and

WHEREAS, John W. Frederick Jr. was born on December 13, 1923 in Manito; on May 7, 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and subsequently attended Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California; during 40 combat missions in World War II, he served as a tail gunner and radar operator on Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bombers; and

WHEREAS, After the war, John Frederick flew reconnaissance missions in China during Operation Beleaguer; and

WHEREAS, During the first year of the Korean War, Technical Sergeant John Frederick flew 90 combat missions as the airborne intercept operator in Grumman F7F Tigercats with Marine All Weather Fighter Squadron 542 (VMF(N)-542); he was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross for his service before rotating home in July of 1951; and

WHEREAS, After the war, Master Sergeant John Frederick was stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina and Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan; in June of 1959, he was assigned to Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland where he worked on the F4H-1 Phantom II project; in July of 1961, he was promoted to warrant officer; in December of 1964, he was assigned to Marine Attack Squadron 533 (VMA-533) at Cherry Point; in May of 1965, he was transferred to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 323 (VMFA-323); and

WHEREAS, On December 1, 1965, Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Frederick deployed to Vietnam with VMFA-323; on the night of December 7, he was the radar intercept officer of an F-4B Phantom during an escort mission out of Da Nang Air Base when his plane was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over North Vietnam; although he severely burned his hands when his part of the cockpit was enveloped by flames, he successfully ejected from the aircraft; the pilot, Major John H. Dunn, also survived the crash and was captured six days later; and

WHEREAS, The next morning, John Frederick accidentally walked into an enemy gun emplacement and single-handedly attacked the position; he managed to fight off North Vietnamese soldiers before he was overpowered and captured; he was subsequently beaten and taken to a prisoner of war camp in Hanoi; and

WHEREAS, As one of the first Marines to be taken as a POW during the war, John Frederick helped set the standard for conduct of other captured Marines, unifying the men and increasing morale; he strictly adhered to the code of conduct and refused to take part in North Vietnamese propaganda programs; his resistance to the enemy also caused him to be routinely tortured and beaten during countless interrogations; and

WHEREAS, John Frederick also faced extended periods of solitary confinement for refusing to bow and refusing to provide biographical information; in 1972, he was held in solitary confinement for 90 days and contracted either typhoid fever or meningitis; falling into a coma, he was likely being transported to a hospital in Hanoi when he died on or about July 19, 1972 after more than 2,400 days in captivity; and

WHEREAS, While other American prisoners of war were released between February and April of 1973 during Operation Homecoming, John Frederick's remains were returned to the United States on March 13, 1974; he was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Tremont; and

WHEREAS, John Frederick was posthumously promoted to chief warrant officer 4 and was awarded the Navy Cross; he was also awarded the Silver Star, two Legions of Merit, and the Bronze Star for his actions while a prisoner of war, making him one of the most decorated warrant officers in Marine Corps history; in 1999, a study lounge at The Basic School in Marine Corps Base Quantico was dedicated in his name; and

WHEREAS, CWO4 John W. Frederick Jr. was survived by his wife, Lorraine Wilma, and his four children, Michael, Gerald, Barbara, and Paula; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Interstate I-155 from Interstate 74 to IL Route 9 near Morton and Tremont as the "CWO4 John W. Frederick Jr. Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs giving notice of the name of the "CWO4 John W. Frederick Jr. Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of CWO4 John W. Frederick Jr. and the Secretary of Transportation.