HR1032LRB098 21019 GRL 58715 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
3Representatives wish to honor  James Pfafflin for his service to 
4his country in the United States Merchant Marine from 1944 to 
51948; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, During World War II, the ships and men of the 
7United States Merchant Marine transported across the oceans of 
8the world the vast quantities of war materiel, supplies, 
9equipment, and troops needed to fight and win the war; the men 
10of the United States Merchant Marine were civilian volunteers 
11who nonetheless died proportionally in numbers that rivaled or 
12exceeded any branch of the uniformed military; like the United 
13States Navy Armed Guard with whom they sailed, the unsung men 
14of the United States Merchant Marine made possible the Allied 
15victory in World War II; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, During World War II, United States Merchant Marine 
17ships faced danger from submarines, mines, armed raiders and 
18destroyers, aircraft, "kamikaze", and the elements; about 
198,300 mariners were killed at sea, 12,000 were wounded, of whom 
20at least 1,100 died from their wounds, and 663 men and women 
21were taken prisoner; one in 26 mariners serving aboard merchant 
22ships in World War II died in the line of duty, suffering a 
23greater percentage of war-related deaths than all other United 
 
 
HR1032- 2 -LRB098 21019 GRL 58715 r

1States services; casualties were kept secret during the war to 
2keep information about their success from the enemy; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, James Pfafflin's first voyage with the United 
4States Merchant Marine was on a ship that left out of San 
5Francisco; the ships brought barrels of gasoline to small 
6islands in the Pacific that couldn't store it, allowing planes 
7that landed on the island to fuel up; the ships also brought 
8blankets, food, and other supplies to people on the islands; 
9and

  
 
10    WHEREAS, James Pfafflin serves as a model of hard work, 
11integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of 
12Illinois; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
15we honor James Pfafflin for his service to his country in the 
16United States Merchant Marine; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
18presented to James Pfafflin as a symbol of our esteem and 
19respect.