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TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE OF UNITED STATES ARMY SPECIALIST FOURTH CLASS CHARLES JOHNSON, JR., THE FIRST BLACK MALE FROM PICKENS COUNTY TO GIVE HIS LIFE IN VIETNAM, AND TO HONOR ALL THOSE FROM PICKENS COUNTY WHO GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION FOR THEIR COUNTRY IN THAT CONFLICT.
Whereas, with deep appreciation, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives honor, on behalf of all South Carolinians, the great sacrifice that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of liberty and justice so richly enjoyed in this nation; and
Whereas, on March 30, 1966, at the age of twenty-five, Specialist Fourth Class Charles Johnson, Jr., gave his life in Pleiku Province, South Vietnam, as the result of small arms fire during ground hostilities; and
Whereas, the son of Charles and Essie Johnson of Pickens, Charles Johnson, Jr., was born August 4, 1940, and graduated from Clearview High School in 1958; and
Whereas, he entered the United States Army and served for six years as a member of the 1st Cavalry and the 82nd Airborne, fulfilling assignments in South Korea and the Dominican Republic before beginning his tour in Vietnam where he lost his life; and
Whereas, he served at Pleiku, Vietnam, from January 1966 through March 30, 1966, when he was killed by enemy fire. He was laid to rest in Secona Cemetery in Pickens; and
Whereas, there is no greater or braver sacrifice for a man to make for his country than to lay down his life; therefore, the members of the American Legion Post 11 of Pickens County will dedicate the public park at the corner of Lee and Catherine Streets behind the church where Specialist Johnson grew up as the Charles Johnson Memorial Park on February 22, 2014; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives remembers with deep gratitude the life and sacrifice of a brave son and hero of the Palmetto State, United States Army Specialist Fourth Class Charles Johnson, Jr. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice of United States Army Specialist Fourth Class Charles Johnson, Jr., the first black male from Pickens County to give his life in Vietnam, and honor all those from Pickens County who gave the last full measure of devotion for their country in that conflict.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to American Legion Post 11 in Pickens County.
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