2003-2004 Bill 5307: George L. Mabry, Jr. - South Carolina Legislature Online

1 South Carolina General Assembly 2 115th Session, 2003-2004 3 4 H. 5307 5 6 STATUS INFORMATION 7 8 Concurrent Resolution 9 Sponsors: Reps. Lourie, Allen, Altman, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, 10 Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, 11 Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, 12 Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, 13 Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, 14 Koon, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, 15 McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, 16 Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, 17 Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, 18 J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Stille, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Townsend, 19 Tripp, Trotter, Umphlett, Vaughn, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, 20 Witherspoon and Young 21 Document Path: l:\council\bills\dka\3928dw04.doc 22 23 Introduced in the House on May 19, 2004 24 Introduced in the Senate on May 19, 2004 25 Adopted by the General Assembly on May 19, 2004 26 27 Summary: George L. Mabry, Jr. 28 29 30 HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS 31 32 Date Body Action Description with journal page number 33 5/19/2004 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-28 34 5/19/2004 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-27 35 36 37 VERSIONS OF THIS BILL 38 39 5/19/2004 40 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 10 11 TO COMMEND THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM OF 12 GEORGE L. MABRY, JR., WHO WAS AWARDED THE 13 MEDAL OF HONOR FOR HIS VALOR, WHICH IS THE 14 HIGHEST AWARD THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON A 15 MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED 16 STATES. 17 18 Whereas, throughout our nation’s history, men and women in all 19 eras from Concord and Lexington to Falleujah have gone in harm’s 20 way to protect and secure our country’s freedom and way of life; 21 and 22 23 Whereas, to recognize extraordinary heroism the Congress of the 24 United States established the Medal of Honor which represents the 25 highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon a member of the 26 armed forces of the United States; and 27 28 Whereas, there have been more than three thousand four hundred 29 recipients but fewer than one hundred forty remain with us today; 30 and 31 32 Whereas, most recipients of the medal are ordinary Americans 33 from ordinary backgrounds who, under extraordinary 34 circumstances and at great risk to their own lives, performed an 35 incredible act or a series of acts of conspicuous valor that clearly 36 sets them apart from their comrades; and 37 38 Whereas, thirty-seven citizens with South Carolina roots have 39 received the Medal of Honor since its inception; and 40 41

1 [5307] 1 1 Whereas, George L. Mabry, Jr., is one of these South Carolinians; 2 and 3 4 Whereas, born in Sumter, South Carolina, Mr. Mabry entered the 5 service in Sumter, South Carolina, achieving the rank of 6 Lieutenant Colonel, United States Army, 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry, 7 4th Infantry Division and served with distinction and honor in 8 Germany; and 9 10 Whereas, he received the Medal of Honor for exemplary service 11 and heroic leadership above and beyond the call of duty in action 12 while commanding the 2d Battalion, 8th Infantry in an attack 13 through the Hurtgen Forest near Schevenhutte, Germany, on 14 November 20, 1944; and 15 16 Whereas, George Mabry without concern for his own safety, 17 traversed a minefield in the face of enemy opposition and lead his 18 battalion across 300 yards of fire-swept terrain to siege elevated 19 ground upon which he established a defensive position that 20 menaced the enemy on both flanks which provided his regiment a 21 firm foothold on the approach to the Cologne Plain; and 22 23 Whereas, Colonel Mabry’s tenacious efforts while showing 24 superior courage, daring, and leadership in an operation of major 25 importance exemplify the finest characteristics of military service; 26 and 27 28 Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this 29 resolution, would like to publicly recognize and honor Lieutenant 30 Colonel George L. Mabry, Jr., this brave and courageous 31 American, for his extraordinary heroism in the defense of our 32 country and her ideals which epitomizes the very best of what 33 America stands for. Now, therefore, 34 35 Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate 36 concurring: 37 38 That the members of the General Assembly commend the 39 extraordinary heroism of George L. Mabry, Jr., who was awarded 40 the Medal of Honor for his valor, which is the highest award that 41 can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United 42 States. 43

1 [5307] 2 1 Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to 2 Lieutenant Colonel George L. Mabry, Jr. 3 ----XX---- 4

1 [5307] 3