HR0215 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0215 LRB097 11294 GRL 53347 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives are pleased to honor United States Marine Corps Corporal John M. Peck for his bravery and sacrifice in defense of our nation; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck was born on September 13, 1985 in Daytona Beach, Florida; he moved to Antioch in September of 2002 and graduated from Antioch High School in 2004; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September of 2005; in September of 2005, he reported to Delta Company of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion; after completing recruit training, he reported to Delta Company at the School of Infantry in San Diego, California; he subsequently reported to 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division and became a Forward Observer for the 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company; in September of 2006, he was detached from Weapons Company to Lima Company, Weapons Platoon; and

WHEREAS, In August 2007, while deployed in Al Anbar, Iraq, Cpl. John Peck's convoy took sniper fire from an elevated position; while trying to take shelter, his vehicle sustained damage from an improvised explosive device; he received a traumatic brain injury from the explosion, for which he received the first of two Purple Hearts; after being shipped to Lundstruhl, Germany, for medical attention, he was sent back to the United States; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck was promoted to his current rank while serving with the Remain Behind Element of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division; in April 2009, Corporal Peck re-enlisted for an additional four years of service under the same MOS; during this time, he received a Meritorious Mast for his work at the Marine Fitness Center; and

WHEREAS, In December of 2009, Cpl. John Peck decided to return to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan; the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines were eventually deployed to Afghanistan on April 19, 2010; on May 24, 2010, while on a dismounted patrol, Cpl. Peck stepped on an improvised explosive device; he immediately lost both of his legs and his right arm and received a "de-gloving injury" to his left arm; he was subsequently airlifted to Lundstruhl, Germany, where doctors performed an arterial graft to fix damage to the left artery in his left wrist and placed him under medical sedation; on May 28, 2010, as he was being airlifted to the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the arterial graft in his left wrist burst open, causing a dangerous drop in blood pressure, and the flight was diverted to Newfoundland; after emergency surgery, he was airlifted from Newfoundland to Bethesda on May 30, 2010; while at Bethesda, doctors discovered that he had Aspergillus in all four of his extremities, his abdomen, and his blood, a condition that normally proves fatal; after numerous surgeries and transfusions, he was transferred to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to start undergoing physical therapy, occupational therapy, and aquatic therapy on August 10, 2010; he underwent in-patient care until February 28, 2011, when his mother arrived to be his non-medical assistant; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck has received numerous medals and commendations for his meritorious service, including two Purple Hearts, two Combat Action Ribbons, two Iraq Companion Medals, two Sea Services Metals, the Afghanistan Companion Medal, the Good Conduct Metal, the NATO Metal, and the Meritorious Mast, as well as numerous letters of appreciation and numerous challenge coins; and

WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck serves as a model of hard work, integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of Illinois; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we honor United States Marine Corps Corporal John M. Peck for his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Cpl. John Peck as a symbol of our esteem and respect.