HR0486 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0486 LRB095 12367 KXB 37230 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The U.S.S Cavalier is named for a county in the State of North Dakota; she was built under the contract of the Maritime Commission by the Western Pipe and Steel Company of San Francisco, California; assigned the name "Cavalier" on October 5, 1942, she was launched on March 15, 1943 under the sponsorship of Mrs. Monroe W. Jackson and delivered to the U.S. Navy on July 19, 1943; she was fitted out as an attack transport by the Bethlehem Steel Company of Hoboken, New Jersey and placed in commission on January 15, 1944 under the command of Captain Raymond T. McElligott, United States Coast-Guard; and

WHEREAS, The U.S.S. Cavalier (APA-37) was a U.S. Coast Guard manned attack transport which had landing barges aboard for landing troops and supplies; the U.S.S. Cavalier had a crew of about 550 men and could accommodate 1200 troops; and

WHEREAS, The Cavalier participated in five invasions in the South Pacific during World War II including Saipan and Tinian in the Marianas Islands; Leyte, Lingayan Gulf, and Subic Bay, all on the island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands; and

WHEREAS, Following the landing at Subic Bay, the Cavalier was torpedoed on January 30, 1945; the ship was disabled and had to be towed back to Pearl Harbor, a distance of approximately 5,400 miles; and

WHEREAS, During the tour of duty, the Cavalier traveled over 58,000 miles from the time it was commissioned in 1943; and

WHEREAS, Since 1989, the crew of the U.S.S. Cavalier has held a reunion in honor of the great ship; this year the crew will celebrate its 19th reunion at the Arlington Heights Doubletree Inn Performing Arts Center from September 5-9, 2007; activities will include a banquet at the hotel, an afternoon at Arlington Racetrack, and a performance at the Metropolis; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor the service and sacrifice of the members of the U.S.S. Cavalier as they celebrate their 19th reunion; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the crew members of the U.S.S. Cavalier as an expression of our esteem.