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1 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, It is appropriate to remember the many sacrifices
3 and contributions to the cause of freedom made by the
4 outstanding men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces;
5 and
6 WHEREAS, First Lieutenant James F. Claussen was born to
7 Ernest and Stella Claussen on Christmas Day in 1921; at the
8 time, the family lived on a small farm near Jacob; and
9 WHEREAS, 1LT Claussen voluntarily enlisted in the U.S.
10 Army in June of 1940 with the goal of becoming a paratrooper;
11 he did not meet the Army's size requirements to become a
12 paratrooper and redirected his efforts to becoming a pilot;
13 and
14 WHEREAS, From June of 1943 until his death in March of
15 1945, 1LT Claussen flew seven combat missions over Sicily,
16 France, Holland, and Germany; and
17 WHEREAS, On March 24, 1945, 1LT Claussen was killed in
18 action while taking part in Operation Varsity; while his
19 three-year commitment when enlisting had ended, he volunteered
20 to fly the day he was killed in action; his C-46 Commando was
21 last seen with its left engine on fire heading back across the
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1 Rhine River after successfully dropping all of its
2 paratroopers; and
3 WHEREAS, 1LT Claussen was the recipient of the Air Medal,
4 the American Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct
5 Medal; he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart;
6 therefore, be it
7 RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL
8 ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF
9 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the
10 portion of Illinois Route 3 between mile marker 20 and mile
11 marker 22, near Rockwood, as the "1LT James F. Claussen
12 Memorial Highway"; and be it further
13 RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation
14 is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with
15 State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs
16 giving notice of the name "1LT James F. Claussen Memorial
17 Highway"; and be it further
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