HR1086 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1086 LRB098 21241 MST 59243 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Loren Duke Abdalla is the great-grandson of Head Chief Running Bull of the Yankton Sioux Tribe from South Dakota; and

WHEREAS, Loren Duke Abdalla, who went by Duke, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in October of 1943, at the age of 18; and

WHEREAS, When Duke finished basic training he was assigned and sent to New Caledonia, and later reassigned to Pavuvu Island with the First Marine Division, 1st Regiment, 1st Battalion, A Company, 1st Platoon, under the command of Colonel Chesty Puller and Major Ray Davis; and

WHEREAS, After months of island training as a rifleman and machine gunner, Duke's regiment was given its first orders, to invade the Island of Peleliu; on September 15, 1944, Duke's battalion invaded Peleliu; he was stationed with his machine gun team and on the third day of the attack his team was pinned down on 3 sides by enemy fire; 3 of his comrades were struck and he was blown back against a coral wall which caused shrapnel holes in both his legs and blew out his ear drums; he survived and was one of only 6 Marines left in A Company, with just 29 left standing in 1st Battalion after the battle; he received the Purple Heart and was promoted to Corporal, becoming the squad leader of the 3rd Squad, 1st Platoon, A Company; and

WHEREAS, Duke recovered in the hospital from his wounds and returned to A Company ready for the Battle of Okinawa, where he would again become a hero; the Battle of Okinawa began on April 1, 1945 and would last for 82 days until June 22nd; the First Marine Division was ordered to relieve the 27th Army Division near the Shuri Line on April 29th; 1st Platoon B and C Company were both first ordered to take the Shuri Line but were continually pushed back by the enemy machine gun fire; on May 5th it was A Company's order to take the line; the morning of May 5th before the attack, Corporal John Brady, the 2nd Squadron leader, was burned by an enemy grenade and under heavy fire; Duke became a hero again, throwing Corporal Brady over his shoulder and carrying him to safety before returning to his squad of 12 marines; it was Duke's squad's order to take out the 6 machine gun nests across the ridge; after the 4th nest was taken out Duke stood alone, his entire squad was either killed or wounded; he continued to push forward and take out the final 2 machine gun nests, while the other 2 squads worked around the base taking out spider traps and a big gun hidden in a cave; in clearing the ridge, Duke allowed the First Marine Division to advance, although many of his comrades were honored for their bravery on that day, Duke was not recognized for his action; and

WHEREAS, During Duke's tour on Okinawa he saved 2 other men's lives; he pulled fellow Marine H. T. Clark out of fire when he froze at the ridge known as Three Sisters; Duke also pulled a war correspondent out of a shell hole while under fire, saving his life; and

WHEREAS, Loren Duke Abdalla ended his service on February 28, 1947 with an honorable discharge from the United States Marine Corp; he fought valiantly during his service in the Pacific Theater; he was awarded the Purple Heart, saved the lives of 3 men, and saved many of his fellow comrades with his brave efforts; and

WHEREAS, The family of Loren Duke Abdalla has been telling his story from World War II with the goal of his service being reviewed and his actions deserving of a Medal of Honor; they believe Duke was passed over for this award because of discrimination against his Native American Heritage; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the President of the United States and Congress to act swiftly and review the case of Loren Duke Abdalla's actions during World War II, which are deserving of the Medal of Honor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to President Barack Obama, the entire Illinois Congressional Delegation, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John Boehner, the Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and the U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.