HR1113 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1113 LRB099 21238 MST 46713 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, United States Army National Guard Retired Brigadier General Walter McCostlin of Fox River Grove, age 81, is an honorably discharged veteran of the 65th Infantry Regiment, the "Borinqueneers"; and

WHEREAS, During "America's Forgotten War", the Korean War, the 65th Infantry earned a significant number of combat honors, including service in the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in December of 1950; in the Korean War, members of the 65th Infantry were awarded more than 860 combat decorations for valor and more than 2,700 Purple Hearts; and

WHEREAS, After being awarded the Purple Heart as a member of the 65th Infantry and being discharged from Korean War service, Gen. McCostlin resumed his service career in the National Guard; after 35 years as a Guardsman and Guard officer, he retired in 1990 as a Colonel; and

WHEREAS, In retirement from the service, Gen. McCostlin was granted the rank and honors of an Illinois Army National Guard Brigadier General by Governor Jim Edgar; and

WHEREAS, Gen. McCostlin has spoken with the media about his pride in serving with the 65th Infantry; almost all of its members were Spanish-speaking young men, many of them from Puerto Rico; the regiment served with high honor in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, before being dissolved into other units as part of the overall U.S. Armed Forces transition from segregated and ethnic-concentrated units into desegregated units; and

WHEREAS, In deference to the heroism of the 65th Infantry, their combat missions, and the heritage of the United States Armed Forces Spanish-speaking and Hispanic servicemen and women, the United States Congress has voted, by special resolution, to present to surviving members of the 65th Infantry the Congressional Gold Medal; and

WHEREAS, The Congressional Gold Medal, the highest-ranking honor awarded by Congress, is granted to few units and their survivors; among previous recipients of this award are the surviving Tuskegee Airmen; and

WHEREAS, The Congressional Gold Medal will be bestowed to surviving members of the 65th Infantry Regiment, the "Borinqueneers", at a ceremony on Wednesday, April 13, 2016, in Washington, D.C.; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we express our deepest gratitude to Retired Brigadier General Walter McCostlin and to his fellow members of the 65th Infantry Regiment, for dedicating their lives to the service of our country; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we join with the United States Congress in marking this occasion with a moment of remembrance for the service of all members of the United States Armed Forces, and in special recognition of those of Spanish-speaking and Hispanic heritage; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be presented to General Walter McCostlin and his family as a symbol of our respect and esteem.