HR0486 LRB095 12367 KXB 37230 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The U.S.S Cavalier is named for a county in the
3 State of North Dakota; she was built under the contract of the
4 Maritime Commission by the Western Pipe and Steel Company of
5 San Francisco, California; assigned the name "Cavalier" on
6 October 5, 1942, she was launched on March 15, 1943 under the
7 sponsorship of Mrs. Monroe W. Jackson and delivered to the U.S.
8 Navy on July 19, 1943; she was fitted out as an attack
9 transport by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Hoboken, New Jersey
10 and placed in commission on January 15, 1944 under the command
11 of Captain Raymond T. McElligott, United States Coast-Guard;
12 and
 
13     WHEREAS, The U.S.S. Cavalier (APA-37) was a U.S. Coast
14 Guard manned attack transport which had landing barges aboard
15 for landing troops and supplies; the U.S.S. Cavalier had a crew
16 of about 550 men and could accommodate 1200 troops; and
 
17     WHEREAS, The Cavalier participated in five invasions in the
18 South Pacific during World War II including Saipan and Tinian
19 in the Marianas Islands; Leyte, Lingayan Gulf, and Subic Bay,
20 all on the island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands; and
 
21     WHEREAS, Following the landing at Subic Bay, the Cavalier
22 was torpedoed on January 30, 1945; the ship was disabled and

 

 

HR0486 - 2 - LRB095 12367 KXB 37230 r

1 had to be towed back to Pearl Harbor, a distance of
2 approximately 5,400 miles; and
 
3     WHEREAS, During the tour of duty, the Cavalier traveled
4 over 58,000 miles from the time it was commissioned in 1943;
5 and
 
6     WHEREAS, Since 1989, the crew of the U.S.S. Cavalier has
7 held a reunion in honor of the great ship; this year the crew
8 will celebrate its 19th reunion at the Arlington Heights
9 Doubletree Inn Performing Arts Center from September 5-9, 2007;
10 activities will include a banquet at the hotel, an afternoon at
11 Arlington Racetrack, and a performance at the Metropolis;
12 therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
15 honor the service and sacrifice of the members of the U.S.S.
16 Cavalier as they celebrate their 19th reunion; and be it
17 further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to the crew members of the U.S.S. Cavalier as an
20 expression of our esteem.