92_HR1168 LRB9208884KFkfB 1 HOUSE RESOLUTION 2 WHEREAS, The members of this General Assembly are honored 3 to recognize veterans of the United States military from the 4 State of Illinois; and 5 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop was born on January 6 11, 1925 in Gillespie, Illinois to the late Walter L. Bishop 7 Sr. and Mary Burke Bishop; and 8 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop graduated from 9 Litchfield Community High School; he earned his bachelor's 10 degree from Eastern Illinois University and his master's 11 degree at Sangamon State University; in addition he attended 12 the Army Air Corps Basic Training, On the Line Army Air Corps 13 Training, USAAC Pre-Flight School, USAAC Navigation School, 14 Crew Assuagement, B17 Phase Training, Loran School, Weather 15 School, US Army Infantry School, Command and General Staff 16 College, United States Army Logistical Management School, 17 Norwich University, and Millikin University; and 18 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop enlisted in the 19 United States Army Air Corps on August 13, 1943, and retired 20 on February 1, 1982; he proudly served his country as a 21 navigator during World War II as well as serving during the 22 Korean and Vietnam conflicts; he was commissioned 2nd 23 Lieutenant of the United States Army Air Corps on December 9, 24 1944 at the age of nineteen and was promoted to full Colonel 25 on November 23, 1966, at the age of 41; and 26 WHEREAS, During his career in the United States Army, 27 Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop commanded Hv Mort Co, 130th 28 Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division upon entry on 29 Federal Active Duty from Litchfield, Illinois on February 15, 30 1952; Colonel Bishop is one of only two men to have ever 31 taken a Company into Federal Service from Litchfield, 32 Illinois; he also served as Company Commander and S-3, Plans -2- LRB9208884KFkfB 1 and Operations of the 223rd Infantry Regiment in combat in 2 Korea, Heart Break Ridge, No Name Ridge, Punch Bowl, Inji, 3 and Kumwa; in addition, he served as chairman of the United 4 States Property and Fiscal Officers, NGB, and at the Pentagon 5 and was established as the First Commandant of the Illinois 6 Officer Candidate School; and 7 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop has been affiliated 8 with several organizations, including as a 50 year member of 9 AF&AM #236 in Litchfield, a 32nd Degree Mason at the Valley 10 of Springfield, Illinois, a member of the Ansar Shrine, a 50 11 year member of the American Legion Post #436, a life member 12 of the Retired Officer Association; and he served as a past 13 member of the VFW, the Elks Lodge, Oakcreat Country Club, and 14 Scott AFB Officers Club; and 15 WHEREAS, During his outstanding career with the United 16 States Army, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop earned many awards 17 and commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the Combat 18 Infantryman's Badge, the Aerial Navigation Wings, the Eagle 19 Award, the WWII Victory Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, 20 the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense 21 Service Medal, the Illinois Military Medal of Merit, the 22 Illinois Active Duty Ribbon, the Bronze Star Medal, the 23 Meritorious Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit 24 Citation, the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct 25 Medal, the Armed Forces Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the 26 Virgin Islands Meritorious Service Medal, and the Illinois 27 Long and Honorable Service Ribbon; therefore, be it 28 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 29 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 30 we recognize Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop for having served 31 the United States Army, the citizens of Illinois, and the 32 city of Litchfield, Illinois with such great distinction and 33 courage; and be it further -3- LRB9208884KFkfB 1 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 2 presented to the family of Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop as an 3 expression of our esteem.