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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Edward Aldrich, a Morris resident, joined the
3United States Army in 1968 with the plan of becoming a military
4police officer and starting a career in law enforcement after
5his service; and
 
6    WHEREAS, After spending time serving state side,
7Specialist Edward Aldrich received an order in 1969 to go to
8Vietnam where he where he was assigned to Company B, 720th
9Military Police Battalion; and
 
10    WHEREAS, B Company, known as the Bushwackers, were
11comprised of three Ambush and Reconnaissance Platoons and one
12Patrol Boat Riverine (PBR) Platoon; and
 
13    WHEREAS, During his time with the Bushwackers, Specialist
14Edward Aldrich was assigned as a rifleman to the 2nd Ambush &
15Reconnaissance Platoon from July of 1969 through November of
161969; from December of 1969 through July of 1970, he was
17assigned to the PBR Platoon as a Senior Boston Whaler
18Operators; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The Reconnaissance and Ambush Platoons were
20directed to seek out and destroy any Vietcong or Northern
21Vietnamese Army Units pertaining to a 22 square mile Tactical

 

 

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1Area of Responsibility in and around the Long Binh and Bien Hoa
2area of South Vietnam; and
 
3    WHEREAS, The Boston Whaler Operators piloted small armed
4gun boats primarily used to transport Ambush Personnel to and
5from embarkation and debarkation points along the Song Dong
6Nai River; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Bushwackers were originally trained to be
8policemen but were assigned to fulfill infantry tactical
9operations; they were the first line of defense protecting
10Long Binh Post, which was the largest military base in South
11Vietnam; and
 
12    WHEREAS, The protection of the Long Binh Post required the
13Bushwackers to perform ambushes as well as recon and patrol
14missions that lasted up to 12 days in awful terrain and poor
15weather conditions; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Just like the infantry units, the Bushwackers
17were responsible for calling in their own air strikes and
18support as well as any artillery; and
 
19    WHEREAS, These heroes may not have been classified as
20infantry, but they did the same jobs and have earned the
21acknowledgment of the United States Army; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, Specialist Edward Aldrich feels that he and those
2with whom he served have earned the Combat Infantry Badge,
3which the United States Army continues to deny; therefore, be
4it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
7we urge the federal government to recognize Specialist Edward
8Aldrich and all the members of Company B, 720th Military
9Police, the Bushwackers, with the Combat Infantry Badge for
10their service and sacrifice to our country during the Vietnam
11War; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
13presented to Specialist Edward Aldrich as a symbol of our
14esteem and respect.