SR1073 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1073 LRB096 24431 GRL 44106 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Hubert Edward Reeves of Prescott, Arizona, formerly of Joliet, who passed away on June 17, 2010; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves was born on October 23, 1931, in Joliet; his parents were Hubert and Wannetta Reeves; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves graduated from the University of Illinois in 1958; he was employed as a computer programmer at APSA in Joliet until his retirement; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves served his country with great bravery and distinction as a private first class in the United States Army during the Korean War; Mr. Reeves was present at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir, where the exhausted U.S. X Corps was outnumbered more than 10 to 1 by enemy forces; during the battle, he was hit by an exploding mortar, which left his legs crippled; while waiting with his wounded comrades in the back of a disabled truck, enemy soldiers stormed his position and killed the rest of the survivors; miraculously, Mr. Reeves survived the ordeal; for 3 days, he laid among the dead, while the enemy continued looting around him; after the enemy found him alive in the truck, he was thrown from the vehicle and beaten, but managed to escape once again; unable to walk, he crawled toward the frozen reservoir throughout the night; eventually, he was found by an "Ice Marine", who drove him back to a friendly base; he eventually reached a hospital in Japan, where doctors were forced to amputate his feet and all his fingers; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves worked with the Korean War Memorial project in Phoenix and Washington, D.C.; he was a proud member of his cherished Veterans of the Chosin Few, Chapter 608-Military Order of the Purple Heart and was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association H. Edward Reeves, Chapter 311, which was named after him; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves taught for 25 years in AWANA and served as an evangelist with South American Crusades from 1976 to 1989; he was also a faithful member of Alliance Bible Church; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves was preceded in death by his children, Deborah and Michael Reeves; his parents; and his sister, Louise Studer; and

WHEREAS, H. Edward Reeves is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Beverly Jean Reeves; his children, John and Ann Reeves, Michelle and Dennis Stewart, Melody and Bill Fisher, Kelly and Steve Lambourne, Kim Reeves, and Cindy and Randy Garman; his 16 grandchildren; his 13 great grandchildren; and his siblings, Grace Tonge, Dick Reeves, James Reeves, and Dorothy Hall; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn, along with his family and friends, the passing of Hubert Edward Reeves; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of H. Edward Reeves as an expression of our sympathy.