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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
3learn of the death of United States Army Sergeant Merle Allen
4Dentino, who was killed in action in Vietnam on June 30, 1970;
5and
 
6    WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was born on October 15, 1948,
7in Peoria; he was a graduate of Spalding Catholic High School
8and attended the University of Illinois in Champaign before
9joining the United States Army in late 1969; and
 
10    WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was killed in action on June
1130, 1970 in Vietnam, following an accidental friendly fire
12incident; that same year, he was promoted posthumously to the
13rank of sergeant; he was also awarded the Air Medal, the Army
14Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the
15Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Metal, the Combat
16Infantryman Badge, and the Expert Badge with grenade, rifle,
17and automatic rifle bars prior to his death and was awarded the
18Bronze Star with First Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism and the
19Good Conduct Medal posthumously in 1970; and
 
20    WHEREAS, After the Army Review Boards Agency received
21United States Representative Aaron Schock's request in 2011 for
22Sgt. Merle Dentino to receive the Purple Heart, his record was

 

 

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1again reviewed; the decision was made to award him the medal on
2April 3, 2012, along with the Army Commendation Medal with V
3Device, the Valorous Unit Award, the Vietnam Service Medal with
42 Bronze Service Stars, the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross
5with Palm Unit Citation, and the Republic of Vietnam Civil
6Actions Honor Medal First Class Unit Citation; he was
7officially awarded the Purple Heart and his other medals on
8July 6, 2012; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Sgt. Merle Dentino was the son of the late James
10and the late Ella (Mucciante) Dentino; the brother of Richard
11Dentino, the late Dr. Ronald Dentino, and Teresa Dentino; the
12brother-in-law of Rosemarie Dentino; the uncle of Maria
13Dentino; the uncle of Kathy Dentino; he also had 3 nieces,
14Michelle Dentino May, Diana, and Lisa, and 2 nephews, Scott
15Dentino and Fred Dentino; therefore, be it
 
16    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
17ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
18United States Army Sergeant Merle Allen Dentino, honor him for
19his great bravery and willingness to serve his country, and
20express our heartfelt appreciation for the sacrifices made by
21Sgt. Dentino and all other service members to keep our nation
22safe; and be it further
 
23    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be

 

 

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1presented to the family of Sgt. Merle Dentino as an expression
2of our sympathy.