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HR0615 |
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LRB093 15000 KEF 40569 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the |
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| State of Illinois recognize William Franker for his heroic |
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| military service; and
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| WHEREAS, In March 1967, at 17, Mr. Franker enlisted in the |
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| Unites States Marines; five days after graduation from Chicago |
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| Vocational he was on his way to boot camp; six months later, he |
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| landed in Vietnam; and
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| WHEREAS, He spent his battles with Alpha Company in a tank, |
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| first as crewman, then as a tank commander, then as a heavy |
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| section leader; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Franker was wounded twice, each time when he |
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| was out of his tank; the first, May 19, 1969, took him out of |
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| action for weeks because he lost his hearing; it happened as he |
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| was guiding the tanks into defensive position for the night |
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| when one rolled over a land mine; he was four feet away, but |
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| the blast got him; and
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| WHEREAS, The second time he was wounded was August 2, 1969, |
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| when after a heavy storm of mortar fire, he got out of the tank |
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| to take care of his guys and help move the wounded; mortar fire |
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| started again, he was hit; and
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| WHEREAS, Things were tough for Mr. Franker when he returned |
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| from Vietnam in June 1970 after two tours; people didn't know |
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| how to treat him; it was tough to get a job; he is currently the |
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| warehouse manager at Illiana Transit warehouse in Hammond; and
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| WHEREAS, Mr. Franker and his wife of 24 years, Mary, have |
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| three children, Steve, Lauren, and Kim; therefore, be it
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| RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE |