Full Text of HR0302 98th General Assembly
HR0302 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of | 3 | | Representatives seek to honor all our veterans, especially | 4 | | those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our | 5 | | nation; and
| 6 | | WHEREAS, On April 22, 1968, Major Robert Paul Riggins of | 7 | | the United States Air Force, 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron, | 8 | | was commanding a 2-aircraft flight from Da Nang Airbase, South | 9 | | Vietnam; and
| 10 | | WHEREAS, Major Riggins had successfully flown 98 combat | 11 | | missions over North Vietnam and was 2 missions away from | 12 | | completing his tour of duty; and
| 13 | | WHEREAS, Major Riggins, determined to accomplish his | 14 | | assigned mission, elected to fly despite poor weather | 15 | | conditions over the area of operations; and
| 16 | | WHEREAS, Flying that day with First Lieutenant William | 17 | | Chomyk of Hicksville, New York, Major Riggins' F-4D Phantom II | 18 | | (Tail Number 66-8778) was hit by enemy ground fire and was lost | 19 | | over Thua Thien Province near the city of Hue; and
| 20 | | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was a highly decorated military |
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| 1 | | aviator, having seen combat in both Korea and Vietnam; he | 2 | | earned the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the | 3 | | Purple Heart, and the Air Medal for his meritorious service; he | 4 | | was also awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Korea | 5 | | Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Air Force | 6 | | Longevity Award, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross - Unit Citation, | 7 | | and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and
| 8 | | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was a native of Champaign and was an | 9 | | alumnus of the University of Illinois at Champaign - Urbana; he | 10 | | earned his bachelor's degree from the College of Commerce and | 11 | | Business Administration in 1952 and his master's degree from | 12 | | the College of Engineering in 1964; and | 13 | | WHEREAS, Major Riggins was survived by his wife, Betty Sue, | 14 | | and his daughters, Amy and Paula; and
| 15 | | WHEREAS, We commemorate the 45th anniversary of Major | 16 | | Riggins and First Lieutenant Chomyk's listing as Missing In | 17 | | Action, hold a solemn vigil for their return to American soil, | 18 | | and give the highest honor to their courage, duty, and | 19 | | sacrifice for their nation in armed aerial combat by engaging | 20 | | enemy forces; therefore, be it | 21 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | 22 | | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
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| 1 | | we, along with their families, friends, and a nation grateful | 2 | | for their sacrifice in its defense, mourn the loss of Major | 3 | | Robert Riggins and First Lieutenant William Chomyk; and be it | 4 | | further
| 5 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | 6 | | presented to the family of Major Riggins as an expression of | 7 | | our remembrance of his steadfast devotion to the principles of | 8 | | duty, honor, and country.
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