Bill 4796

                    Current Status

Bill Number:                       4796
Type of Legislation:               Concurrent Resolution CR
Introducing Body:                  House
Introduced Date:                   19980312
Primary Sponsor:                   Cromer 
All Sponsors:                      Cromer 
Drafted Document Number:           psd\7273jm.98
Date Bill Passed both Bodies:      19980318
Subject:                           Major General George Mabry,
                                   Resolutions

Body    Date      Action Description                       Com     Leg Involved
______  ________  _______________________________________  _______ ____________

House   19980318  Received from Senate
Senate  19980318  Introduced, adopted, returned
                  with concurrence
House   19980312  Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND EXPRESS GRATITUDE FOR THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LEGACY OF THE LATE MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE MABRY, ONE OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S MOST OUTSTANDING CITIZENS AND AN AUTHENTIC AMERICAN HERO.

Whereas, George Mabry was born on September 14, 1917, in Stateburg; he grew up in rural Sumter County and earned an athletic scholarship to Presbyterian College; and

Whereas, while a college student, he became a member of the Reserve Officers Training Corps and, after graduation, joined the United States Army in 1940 as a reserve second lieutenant; he was assigned to the newly reactivated Fourth Infantry Division at Ft. Benning, Georgia; he trained in the United States and England and landed with the second wave on Utah Beach in Normandy, France on D-Day, June 6, 1944, during World War II; because of his personal actions in combat, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the second highest medal the United States awards for combat valor; and

Whereas, he fought through France, Luxembourg, and Belgium and into Germany; he received two battlefield promotions, rising from captain to lieutenant colonel in just six months, and, by the time the war ended, he was a battalion commander; and

Whereas, he was also awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star for Valor with Oakleaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Service Order (Britain's second highest medal and that kingdom's highest medal that can be awarded to a nonsubject); for heroism above and beyond the call of duty he was awarded the United States' highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor, by President Truman in August, 1945; and

Whereas, he was personally involved in the liberation of Paris, the Battle of the Bulge, and the breaching of the Siegfried line; he received every medal the United States can award for heroism; President Bush, during his term of office, called George Mabry the United States' second most decorated soldier; and

Whereas, George Mabry served for thirty-five years in the United States Army, including two tours in Vietnam; in 1975, he retired as major general; and

Whereas, two recent national bestsellers mention General Mabry most favorably; the first is a biography of H. Norman Schwarzkoph; General Schwarzkoph, who was then a lieutenant colonel, worked for General Mabry while stationed in Vietnam; the second book is the recent bestseller on the Battle of D-Day, Citizen Soldiers by Stephen E. Ambrose; it mentions General Mabry's courageous actions at Utah Beach in Normandy and the fact that he was one of the Fourth Division's best officers; and

Whereas, the United States Army has named its National Non-Commissioned Officers Academy at Ft. Jackson "Mabry Hall" in honor of this great South Carolinian and an authentic American hero; and

Whereas, although George Mabry died July 13, 1990, his legacy is eternal; he is, and will forever remain, one of South Carolina's most distinguished citizens; he was devoted to God and country and served our great nation magnificently; all South Carolinians, as well as all American citizens, owe George Mabry a debt of gratitude for his valor, his heroism, his devotion to duty, and his splendid example of service. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the General Assembly recognizes and expresses gratitude for the accomplishments and legacy of the late Major General George Mabry, one of South Carolina's most outstanding citizens and an authentic American hero.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to General Mabry's family.