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2013 -- S 0926 | |
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LC02492 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
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CONGRATULATING THE MEMBERS OF THE 107TH SIGNAL COMPANY ON THE 50TH | |
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ANNIVERSARY OF THEIR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY | |
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Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Paiva Weed, Walaska, Felag, and Pichardo | |
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Date Introduced: May 09, 2013 | |
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Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration | |
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WHEREAS, On April 11th of 1968, Army National Guard units from seventeen states |
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were Federalized and alerted with orders to active duty on May 13, 1968. Eight units of the Army |
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National Guard, with a total strength of more than 3,000 men, subsequently served on active duty |
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in Vietnam; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1967, the 107th Signal Company was a unit of approximately 125 men. |
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Upon the company's call to active duty, it deployed to Ft. Devens for training. The men attended |
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signal school to gain proficiency in Signal Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) and were |
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instructed in jungle warfare training; and |
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WHEREAS, With the addition of new men from other National Guard Units from within |
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Rhode Island, as well as regular Army Signal Cadre and command staff, the 107th Signal |
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Company, commanded by Captain Cecil James, numbered over 350 troops and became the only |
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Rhode Island National Guard unit activated for service in Vietnam; and |
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WHEREAS, On October 18th of 1968, Rhode Island's 107th Signal Company (Support), |
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arrived at its base camp in Long Binh, Republic of Vietnam, and assumed its mission of |
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establishing, operating, and maintaining three communications complexes in support of the 1st |
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Signal Brigade operations commanded by Brig. General Thomas M. Rienzi and the 972nd Signal |
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Battalion Commanded by LTC Donald Carmichael; and |
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WHEREAS, The 2.7 million troops that served in Vietnam faced artillery and snipers in |
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impenetrable jungles and endless tunnels, with 100 percent humidity and 100 degree |
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temperatures, surrounded by smells of rotting garbage and burning diesel fuel in a war zone and a |
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country that were incompatible with human life; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the 107th Signal Company were awarded 11 Bronze Stars and |
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63 Army Commendation Medals. For the unit's participation in Vietnam, they were awarded |
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combat streamers which remained on their guidon for the following campaigns: Counter |
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Offensive Phase V, Counter Offensive Phase VI, Tet Counter Offensive and the Summer/Fall |
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1969 streamer; and |
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WHEREAS, Our country did its best to train these men to face unfathomable dangers, but |
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the force behind our forces was ultimately their loyalty to their "Band of Brothers," their love of |
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this country, and their willingness to do their duty in the name of God and freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, The 107th Signal Company courageously fought in the Vietnam conflict |
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from October 1968 to October 1969 and served a total of 19 months of Federalized duty. They |
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are our brothers, our sons, our husbands, our neighbors, and always, our heroes; now, therefore be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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hereby honors, thanks, and congratulates the men of the 107th Signal Company on the 50th |
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Anniversary of their service to our country; and be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Frank Castellone. |
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LC02492 | |
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