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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, It is highly fitting that the Illinois General
3Assembly pays honor and respect to the truly great individuals
4who have served our country and, in doing so, have made the
5ultimate sacrifice for our nation; and
 
6    WHEREAS, William "Bill" Campbell was born to Ida Marie and
7Kenneth Campbell on October 24, 1948; he was one of eight
8children along with brother, Robert Dean Campbell, and sisters,
9Sandy Painter, Betty Evans, Judy Buchanan, Joyce Borchers,
10Janet Barker, and Jeanne Taylor; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Bill Campbell graduated in June of 1968 from
12Gibson City High School at a trying time for many young men due
13to the heavy involvement of the United States in the Vietnam
14War; and
 
15    WHEREAS, Like many others facing the draft, Bill Campbell
16was called to serve in the U.S. Army on August 12, 1968; and
 
17    WHEREAS, Just under a year into his service on August 2,
181969, Bill Campbell was killed in action, the first and only
19casualty from Gibson City; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Bill Campbell received several recognitions for

 

 

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1his actions in Vietnam; among them was the Silver Star, which
2was presented to his mother Ida, for the time he "distinguished
3himself as a leader in Company B, First Airborne Battalion
4501st Infantry during a search and clear operation near the
5city of Tam Ky, Republic of Vietnam"; and
 
6    WHEREAS, In addition to his Silver Star, Bill Campbell
7received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct
8Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service
9Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, and the Combat Infantryman
10Badge; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Bill Campbell's heroism and willingness to
12sacrifice his own well-being was an inspiration to his entire
13platoon; his bravery and devotion to duty and his fellow
14soldiers were in keeping with the highest traditions of
15military service; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Bill Campbell's actions reflect positively on
17himself, his family, his unit, and the U.S. Army; therefore, be
18it
 
19    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
21SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate Illinois Route 47
22as it travels through Gibson City as the "Col. William "Bill"

 

 

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1Campbell Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
2    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
3is requested to erect, at suitable locations consistent with
4State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
5giving notice of the name of the "Col. William "Bill" Campbell
6Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
7    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
8presented to the family of Bill Campbell, the Mayor of Gibson
9City, and the Secretary of Transportation.