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92_HJ0049
LRB9208884RHrhA
1 HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The members of this General Assembly are honored
3 to memorialize veterans of the United States military from
4 the State of Illinois; and
5 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop was born on January
6 11, 1925 in Gillespie, Illinois to the late Walter L. Bishop
7 Sr. and Mary Burke Bishop; and
8 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop graduated from
9 Litchfield Community High School; he earned his bachelor's
10 degree from Eastern Illinois University and his master's
11 degree at Sangamon State University; in addition he attended
12 the Army Air Corps Basic Training, On the Line Army Air Corps
13 Training, USAAC Pre-Flight School, USAAC Navigation School,
14 Crew Assuagement, B17 Phase Training, Loran School, Weather
15 School, US Army Infantry School, Command and General Staff
16 College, United States Army Logistical Management School,
17 Norwich University, and Millikin University; and
18 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop enlisted in the
19 United States Army Air Corps on August 13, 1943, and retired
20 on February 1, 1982; he proudly served his country as a
21 navigator during World War II as well as serving during the
22 Korean and Vietnam conflicts; he was commissioned 2nd
23 Lieutenant of the United States Army Air Corps on December 9,
24 1944 at the age of nineteen and was promoted to full Colonel
25 on November 23, 1966, at the age of 41; and
26 WHEREAS, During his career in the United States Army,
27 Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop commanded Hv Mort Co, 130th
28 Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division upon entry on
29 Federal Active Duty from Litchfield, Illinois on February 15,
30 1952; Colonel Bishop is one of only two men to have ever
31 taken a Company into Federal Service from Litchfield,
32 Illinois; he also served as Company Commander and S-3, Plans
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1 and Operations of the 223rd Infantry Regiment in combat in
2 Korea, Heart Break Ridge, No Name Ridge, Punch Bowl, Inji,
3 and Kumwa; in addition, he served as chairman of the United
4 States Property and Fiscal Officers, NGB, and at the Pentagon
5 and was established as the First Commandant of the Illinois
6 Officer Candidate School; and
7 WHEREAS, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop has been affiliated
8 with several organizations, including as a 50 year member of
9 AF&AM #236 in Litchfield, a 32nd Degree Mason at the Valley
10 of Springfield, Illinois, a member of the Ansar Shrine, a 50
11 year member of the American Legion Post #436, a life member
12 of the Retired Officer Association; and he served as a past
13 member of the VFW, the Elks Lodge, Oakcreat Country Club, and
14 Scott AFB Officers Club; and
15 WHEREAS, During his outstanding career with the United
16 States Army, Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop earned many awards
17 and commendations, including the Legion of Merit, the Combat
18 Infantryman's Badge, the Aerial Navigation Wings, the Eagle
19 Award, the WWII Victory Medal, the Army Commendation Medal,
20 the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense
21 Service Medal, the Illinois Military Medal of Merit, the
22 Illinois Active Duty Ribbon, the Bronze Star Medal, the
23 Meritorious Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit
24 Citation, the American Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct
25 Medal, the Armed Forces Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the
26 Virgin Islands Meritorious Service Medal, and the Illinois
27 Long and Honorable Service Ribbon; therefore, be it
28 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
29 NINETY-SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
30 SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Litchfield Armory be
31 re-named in honor of Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop who had
32 served the United States Army, the citizens of Illinois, and
33 the city of Litchfield, Illinois with great distinction and
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1 courage; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 presented to the family of Colonel Thomas Burke Bishop as an
4 expression of our esteem.