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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, During World War II's Battle of the Bulge,
3American forces at Hosingen, Luxembourg made a heroic stand
4against overwhelming odds, which bought critical time for
5Allied troops and stalled Hitler's efforts to break the Allied
6advance; Enoch "Nick" Scull Jr. of Sandwich was one of 300
7soldiers who fought in Hosingen; and
 
8    WHEREAS, Nick Scull was born on a farm outside of Plano in
9August 1924; he served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer
10with the 103rd Combat Engineer Battalion of the 28th Infantry
11Division during World War II; during his service, he fought in
12many battles in Northern Europe, most notably D-Day and the
13Battle of the Bulge; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Alongside his fellow soldiers, Nick Scull held
15back numerically superior enemy troops against overwhelming
16odds for two and a half days at Hosingen until the detachment's
17ammunition was exhausted; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Nick Scull, in addition to setting defensive land
19mines and neutralizing enemy mines, commanded a machine gun
20nest during the crucial days in Hosingen; and
 
21    WHEREAS, After exhausting their food, water, and

 

 

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1ammunition, Nick Scull and the rest of the American forces in
2Hosingen were ordered to surrender and were captured by the
3Germans; and
 
4    WHEREAS, After his capture, Nick Scull was confined to
5three German prisoner of war camps, where he lost 55 pounds and
6suffered from frostbite; and
 
7    WHEREAS, Nick Scull has received several honors for his
8bravery and service, including two Purple Hearts for injuries
9received; he was granted the rank of a Knight of the Legion of
10Honor by the French government in 2019 in recognition of the
11sacrifices he made and valor he displayed in liberating France
12from the horrors of National Socialism; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Nick Scull will be awarded the Order of Merit
14Medal of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg for his defense of
15Luxembourg at Hosingen during the Battle of the Bulge, and the
16award ceremony will take place at the Quincy Veterans' Home on
17June 12, 2022; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The people of Illinois desire to join the people
19of Luxembourg in honoring and thanking Nick Scull for his
20valor and courage in risking his life to confront the menace of
21National Socialism; therefore, be it
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL
2ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare August 12,
32021 as The Heroes of Hosingen Day in the State of Illinois and
4request the day be celebrated with appropriate events and
5activities; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
7presented to Enoch "Nick" Scull Jr. as an expression of our
8esteem and respect.