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1
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, It is appropriate to remember the many sacrifices 
3and contributions to the cause of freedom made by the 
4outstanding men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces; 
5and
  
 
6    WHEREAS,  First Lieutenant James F. Claussen was born to 
7Ernest and Stella Claussen on Christmas Day in 1921; at the 
8time, the family lived on a small farm near Jacob; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS, 1LT Claussen voluntarily enlisted in the U.S. 
10Army in June of 1940 with the goal of becoming a paratrooper; 
11he did not meet the Army's size requirements to become a 
12paratrooper and redirected his efforts to becoming a pilot; 
13and
  
 
14    WHEREAS, From June of 1943 until his death in March of 
151945, 1LT Claussen flew seven combat missions over Sicily, 
16France, Holland, and Germany; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, On March 24, 1945, 1LT Claussen was killed in 
18action while taking part in Operation Varsity; while his three 
19year commitment when enlisting had ended, he volunteered to 
20fly the day he was killed in action; his C-46 Commando was last 
21seen with its left engine on fire heading back across the Rhine 
 
 
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1River after successfully dropping all of its paratroopers; and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, 1LT Claussen was the recipient of the Air Medal, 
3the American Defense Service Medal, and the Good Conduct 
4Medal; he was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart; 
5therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
7ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF 
8REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we designate the 
9portion of Illinois Route 3 between mile marker 20 and mile 
10marker 22, near Rockwood, as the "1LT James F. Claussen 
11Memorial Highway"; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Transportation 
13is requested to erect at suitable locations, consistent with 
14State and federal regulations, appropriate plaques or signs 
15giving notice of the name of "1LT James F. Claussen Memorial 
16Highway"; and be it further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be 
18presented to the Secretary of Transportation and the family of 
191LT Claussen.