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TO REQUEST THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NAME THE PORTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 81 IN MCCORMICK COUNTY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH SOUTH CAROLINA HIGHWAY 72 TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE RUSSELL DAM OVERLOOK "1SG JAMES HILLEY MEMORIAL HIGHWAY" AND ERECT APPROPRIATE SIGNS OR MARKERS ALONG THIS PORTION OF HIGHWAY CONTAINING THESE WORDS.
Whereas, James Hilley was born in Elbert County, Georgia, on March 9, 1915, to Nathan Michael Hilley and Molly McGarity Hilley. As a young boy, the family moved to a homestead in Mt. Carmel in McCormick County where he attended school and later worked in the Calhoun Falls cotton mill; and
Whereas, in 1936 at age 21, he joined the United States Army and served in Panama prior to joining the 10th Mountain Division at Camp Hale in Eagle County, Colorado; and
Whereas, in late April 1945, during the closing days of World War II, there was an effort to take out German forces around the territory north of Verona, Italy, on the coast of Lake Garda in the towns of Torbole and Riva. A group of twenty-six men that included First Sergeant Hilley was loaded onto a DUKW amphibious truck at Torbole and moved out onto Lake Garda for the crossing. Along with the men were two heavily loaded 75mm pack Howitzers being delivered to an Allied base; and
Whereas, crossing at night during a storm, the overloaded vehicle stalled and began to take on water. Only one of the men was able to swim back to shore. The remaining twenty-five soldiers, including First Sergeant Hilley, went down with the DUKW and their bodies were never recovered; and
Whereas, in honor of his service and ultimate sacrifice, First Sergeant James Hilley was awarded the Purple Heart; and
Whereas, it is proper and fitting that members of the South Carolina General Assembly honor the sacrifice made by this valiant son of South Carolina by naming a portion of highway in McCormick County in his honor. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:
That members of the South Carolina General Assembly request the Department of Transportation name the portion of South Carolina Highway 81 in McCormick County from its intersection with South Carolina Highway 72 to its intersection with the Russell Dam Overlook "1SG James Hilley Memorial Highway" and erect appropriate signs or markers along this portion of highway containing these words.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Department of Transportation.
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