HJ0088 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0088 LRB097 21593 KXB 69809 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It is necessary to honor and remember the military heroes of our State and country who have served with great dedication to preserving our liberties and freedoms; and

WHEREAS, Russell E. Dunham was born in 1920 in East Carondelet and raised on a small farm near Fosterburg; when he was 20 years old he enlisted in the United States Army; and

WHEREAS, Russell Dunham achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant and platoon leader with the 30th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, and saw combat in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and France; and

WHEREAS, On January 8th, 1945, Technical Sergeant Dunham's unit was pinned down between artillery fire and enemy machine gun nests at the base of snow-covered Hill 616 in Alsace-Lorraine near Kaysersberg, France; Technical Sergeant Dunham made the decision to advance single-handedly, using a white mattress as camouflage and cover; Technical Sergeant Dunham then preceded to neutralize all three machine gun emplacements using only his carbine and hand grenades, while being wounded by enemy fire in the process; and

WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Dunham was awarded the Medal of Honor 1945 for "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty"; General Alexander Patch said, while he placed the award around Dunham's neck, that his actions had single-handedly saved the lives of 120 pinned-down US soldiers; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the Medal of Honor, Technical Sergeant Dunham was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Croix de Guerre for Heroism from the President of France for his valiant service during the Second World War; and

WHEREAS, After his service, Technical Sergeant Dunham returned to west central Illinois, where he continued to serve his fellow soldiers by working as a benefits counselor with the Veterans Administration in St. Louis for 32 years; he also honored his fellow infantrymen by getting a monument erected at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery to honor those who served with the 3rd Infantry Division; and

WHEREAS, He was an avid hunter and proud member of the Alton Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1308; and

WHEREAS, After his marriage to Mary Dunham ended, Technical Sergeant Dunham lived out the remainder of his life in Jersey County with his second wife, Wilda Long-Bazzell Dunham; and

WHEREAS, He had a daughter, Mary Neal, with his first wife; and two stepchildren, Annette Wilson and David Bazzell; in addition, Technical Sergeant Dunham had 8 brothers, 5 sisters, and multiple grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Technical Sergeant Dunham passed away in 2009 in Godfrey, at the age of 89; and

WHEREAS, The members of this Body are humbled and honored by Technical Sergeant Russell Dunham's distinguished life and valiant military service; and

WHEREAS, When completed, there shall be a section of Illinois State Highway 255 running between Seminary Road at Milepost 16 to U.S. Route 67 at Milepost 21; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that, when completed, the stretch of Illinois State Highway 255 between Mileposts 16 and 21 be designated the "Russell E. Dunham Memorial Highway"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, upon completion of the highway, 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; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Dunham family, the Village of Godfrey, the county boards of both Jersey and Madison Counties, and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation.