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TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR COLONEL LOREN WEBB, UNITED STATES ARMY, RETIRED, AND TO COMMEND HIS MERITORIOUS AND LIFELONG SERVICE TO THIS STATE AND NATION.
Whereas, it is altogether fitting and proper that the South Carolina Senate should pause in its deliberations to celebrate the patriotic life and service of Colonel Loren Webb; and
Whereas, born in Ridgeland on July 6, 1930, he learned the value of hard work growing up on a farm and working at his parents' general stores. He also worked making septic tanks and pouring concrete at Webb Concrete Company, Inc., still operating in Barnwell; and
Whereas, in exchange for flying lessons, young Loren Webb washed airplanes at the local airport, a portent to his military service; and
Whereas, he earned a bachelor's degree from Clemson College in 1953 in animal husbandry and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army. He successfully completed Army Flight Training at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where one hundred fifty flight candidates enrolled, but only fifty graduated; and
Whereas, Colonel Webb completed various flight schools during his career in Army Aviation and was qualified to fly many aircraft, including single- and multi-engine airplanes and helicopters, and he was licensed as an Army flight instructor for many of them; and
Whereas, after flying along the DMZ to the Yellow Sea in Korea and back to base from 1959 to 1960, Colonel Webb was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division to support paratroopers at Simmons Army Air Field at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and then volunteered for training on the Mohawk which he later flew in Vietnam; and
Whereas, he was stationed in Verona, Italy, where he flew Bell Huey helicopters, Beavers, and Otters. Otters were used to transport Italian paratroopers, and he flew Mohawks to Italian airshows and Sikorsky helicopters to supply troops on Italian mountain tops; and
Whereas, in Italy, Colonel Webb was honored to fly Senator Strom Thurmond around, who was a General in the Army Reserve at the time; and
Whereas, when land behind Italy's Vajont Dam gave way killing over three thousand people in the flooding waters, he participated in rescue and support activities in the Sikorsky helicopter, for which he was awarded the Flying S from Sikorsky helicopters; and
Whereas, after Italy, Colonel Webb served a tour in Vietnam where he commanded a Mohawk unit in Ankae, flying infrared missions, low-level reconnaissance, and over eighty combat missions; and
Whereas, after completing Command and General Staff College, he was assigned as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Intelligence Division at Fort Monroe, Virginia. He was later sent to Langley Air Force Base to correct procedural deficiencies at its flight facility, for which service he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Service Medal; and
Whereas, in 1973, Colonel Webb was assigned to Ishan, Iran, to teach Iranian pilots to fly the Bell Huey helicopter and then was assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia, retiring in 1975 after twenty-five years of military service with almost ten thousand flying hours; and
Whereas, he moved to Camden and used his talents by teaching JROTC at Lower Richland High School and then served in Kershaw County Juvenile Court for fifteen years. He served on the Camden Airport Commission for twelve years, as its chairman for four years; and
Whereas, together with Barbara Webb, his beloved wife of more than sixty-two years, he reared two fine children, Colonel Tim Webb and Melinda Rabon, both of whom reside in Kershaw County. Colonel Webb is also the beloved uncle of the Senate's own Richard Webb; and
Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is deeply grateful for citizens like Loren Webb, whose lives are marked with patriotism and excellence, and the members take great pride in saluting his exemplary life and service. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Colonel Loren Webb, United States Army, Retired, and commend his meritorious and lifelong service to this State and nation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Colonel Loren Webb.
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