SR0480 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0480 LRB101 12721 ALS 61458 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to learn of the death of Xenophon "Fonda" Doudalis of Des Plaines, who passed away on May 27, 2019; and

WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was born on May 24, 1924; a resident of Des Plaines since 1962, he served as a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II; and

WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was chosen as a Legion of Honor recipient for helping to liberate French cities and villages as he and his army unit, the 281st Engineer Battalion serving under General George Patton, made their way through France on the way to Germany; the French Legion of Honor is the highest French government order recognizing military and civilian merit; the honor was established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802; and

WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis and his unit arrived in Normandy on December 29, 1944; as they advanced through the country, the troops often came under heavy enemy fire, forcing them to scatter; at one point, he took shelter in an abandoned bicycle factory and then used one of the bicycles to help search for the rest of his unit; at the end of April 1945, he discovered the horrors of the Dachau concentration camp, where 32,000 men, women, and children were held prisoners; he was among the first U.S. soldiers to liberate the camp; his assignment was to photograph the area and then help rescue the camp's prisoners; and

WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis participated in an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.; he was a humble man who put everyone else before himself; and

WHEREAS, Xenophon Doudalis was the beloved husband of the late Maria (Baltas) Doudalis for 62 years, the loving father of Valerie (John) Magg, the loving grandfather of Matthew (Lisa) Doudalis and Marisa (Sean) Wilhelm, and the loving great-grandfather of Maria Angela, Isabella, Alexis, and Adam; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of Xenophon "Fonda" Doudalis and extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Xenophon Doudalis as an expression of our deepest sympathy.