South Carolina General Assembly
115th Session, 2003-2004

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H. 5301

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Lourie, Allen, Altman, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, Koon, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Stille, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Umphlett, Vaughn, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\21264sd04.doc

Introduced in the House on May 19, 2004
Introduced in the Senate on May 19, 2004
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 19, 2004

Summary: Francis S. Currey

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
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   5/19/2004  House   Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-23
   5/19/2004  Senate  Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-23

View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/19/2004

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

TO COMMEND THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM OF ARMY SERGEANT FRANCIS S. CURREY, A NATIVE OF NEW YORK AND A RESIDENT OF BONNEAU, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR DURING WORLD WAR II FOR VALOR, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.

Whereas, throughout our nation's history, men and women in all eras from Concord and Lexington to Falleujah have gone in harm's way to protect and secure our country's freedom and way of life; and

Whereas, to recognize extraordinary heroism the Congress of the United States established the Medal of Honor which represents the highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States; and

Whereas, there have been more than three thousand four hundred recipients but fewer than one hundred forty remain with us today; and

Whereas, most recipients of the medal are ordinary Americans from ordinary backgrounds who, under extraordinary circumstances and at great risk to their own lives, performed an incredible act or a series of acts of conspicuous valor that clearly sets them apart from their comrades; and

Whereas, thirty-seven citizens with South Carolina roots have received the Medal of Honor since its inception; and

Whereas, Army Sergeant Francis S. Currey is one of these heroes who fortunately is with us today; and

Whereas, Sgt. Francis S. Currey was an automatic rifleman with his platoon defending a strong point near Malmedy, Belgium, on December 21, 1944, when the enemy launched a powerful attack; and

Whereas, overrunning tank destroyers and antitank guns located near the strong point, German tanks advanced to the platoon's position, and after prolonged fighting, forced the withdrawal of this group to a nearby factory; and

Whereas, Sgt. Currey found a bazooka in the building and crossed the street to secure rockets while enduring intense fire from enemy tanks and hostile infantrymen who had taken up a position at a house a short distance away. In the face of small arms, machine gun, and artillery fire, he and a companion knocked out a tank with one shot; and

Whereas, moving to another position, he observed three Germans in the doorway of an enemy-held house. He fatally wounded all three with his automatic rifle. He emerged from cover and advanced alone to within fifty yards of the house, intent on wrecking it with rockets. Covered by friendly fire, he stood erect and fired a shot which knocked down half of one wall of the house; and

Whereas, while in this forward position, he observed five Americans who had been pinned down for hours by fire from the house and three tanks. Sgt. Currey crossed the street to a vehicle, where he procured an armful of antitank grenades. He launched these while under heavy enemy fire, driving the tank men from the vehicles into the house. He then climbed onto a half-track in full view of the Germans and fired a machine gun at the house; and

Whereas, once again changing his position, he manned another machine gun whose crew had been killed, and under his covering fire the five soldiers were able to retire to safety. Deprived of tanks and with heavy casualties, the enemy was forced to withdraw; and

Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, would like to publicly recognize and honor Army Sergeant Francis S. Currey, this brave and courageous American, for his extraordinary heroism in the defense of our country and her ideals which epitomizes the very best of what America stands for. Now, therefore,

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

That the members of the General Assembly commend the extraordinary heroism of Army Sergeant Francis S. Currey, a native of New York and a resident of Bonneau, South Carolina, who was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II for valor, which is the highest award that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Sgt. Francis S. Currey.

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