HR0799

LRB093 21676 HSS 49440 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives were saddened to learn of the death of  Major 
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Arthur "Artie" Gene Ecklund; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Arthur "Artie" Ecklund was born in Galesburg on 
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May 5, 1943; and


 
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    WHEREAS, Major Ecklund was drafted into the United States 
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Army in 1966, attended basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, and 
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was later commissioned as an officer at Fort Sill Oklahoma; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Major Ecklund completed helicopter training at 
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Fort Walters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama; he graduated from 
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training as a Huey gunship pilot to later serve his country as 
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an Army air control pilot in Vietnam; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Major Ecklund arrived in Vietnam in November 1968 
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with the 183rd Aviation Company of the United States Army's 1st 
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Aviation Brigade; and
 
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    WHEREAS, On April 3, 1969, Major Ecklund and his U.S. Air 
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Force observer, Captain Perry Jefferson, were flying a visual 
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reconnaissance mission out of Phan Pang airbase when their 
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helicopter was shot down by enemy fire;  and
 
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    WHEREAS, Thirty-five years to the date of his 
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disappearance, on April 3, 2004, Major Ecklund was laid to 
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rest; and
 
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    WHEREAS, The family of Artie Ecklund remember him as a 
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devoted and generous son and brother, as well as an ambitious 
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and self sufficient individual; and
 
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    WHEREAS, 9,087,000 United States military personnel 
 


 






HR0799
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LRB093 21676 HSS 49440 r




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courageously served their nation in the conflict in Vietnam;  
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58,169 military personnel were killed in the line of duty and 
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1,870 were declared to be missing in action from this conflict; 
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therefore, be it
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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honor Major Arthur "Artie" Ecklund along with all who knew and 
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loved him and extend our sincere condolences to his family, 
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friends, and community; and be it further
 
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    RESOLVED, That we honor the memory of Major Arthur Ecklund 
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and his willingness to serve our country, which led to him 
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making the ultimate sacrifice; and be it further
 
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RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to the family of Major Arthur Ecklund as an 
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expression of our deepest sympathy and appreciation.