Bill Text: IL HR0215 | 2011-2012 | 97th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Honors United States Marine Corps Corporal John M. Peck for his bravery and sacrifice in defense of our nation.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2011-03-29 - Resolution Adopted [HR0215 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2011-HR0215-Introduced.html

---

HR0215 LRB097 11294 GRL 53347 r
HOUSE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
Representatives are pleased to honor United States Marine Corps
Corporal John M. Peck for his bravery and sacrifice in defense
of our nation; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck was born on September 13, 1985 in
Daytona Beach, Florida; he moved to Antioch in September of
2002 and graduated from Antioch High School in 2004; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck enlisted in the United States
Marine Corps in September of 2005; in September of 2005, he
reported to Delta Company of the 1st Recruit Training
Battalion; after completing recruit training, he reported to
Delta Company at the School of Infantry in San Diego,
California; he subsequently reported to 3rd Battalion, 1st
Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division and became a Forward
Observer for the 81mm Mortar Platoon, Weapons Company; in
September of 2006, he was detached from Weapons Company to Lima
Company, Weapons Platoon; and
WHEREAS, In August 2007, while deployed in Al Anbar, Iraq,
Cpl. John Peck's convoy took sniper fire from an elevated
position; while trying to take shelter, his vehicle sustained
damage from an improvised explosive device; he received a

HR0215 - 2 - LRB097 11294 GRL 53347 r
traumatic brain injury from the explosion, for which he
received the first of two Purple Hearts; after being shipped to
Lundstruhl, Germany, for medical attention, he was sent back to
the United States; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck was promoted to his current rank
while serving with the Remain Behind Element of the 3rd
Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division; in
April 2009, Corporal Peck re-enlisted for an additional four
years of service under the same MOS; during this time, he
received a Meritorious Mast for his work at the Marine Fitness
Center; and
WHEREAS, In December of 2009, Cpl. John Peck decided to
return to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment of the 1st
Marine Division to prepare for deployment to Afghanistan; the
3rd Battalion, 1st Marines were eventually deployed to
Afghanistan on April 19, 2010; on May 24, 2010, while on a
dismounted patrol, Cpl. Peck stepped on an improvised explosive
device; he immediately lost both of his legs and his right arm
and received a "de-gloving injury" to his left arm; he was
subsequently airlifted to Lundstruhl, Germany, where doctors
performed an arterial graft to fix damage to the left artery in
his left wrist and placed him under medical sedation; on May
28, 2010, as he was being airlifted to the National Naval
Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the arterial graft in his

HR0215 - 3 - LRB097 11294 GRL 53347 r
left wrist burst open, causing a dangerous drop in blood
pressure, and the flight was diverted to Newfoundland; after
emergency surgery, he was airlifted from Newfoundland to
Bethesda on May 30, 2010; while at Bethesda, doctors discovered
that he had Aspergillus in all four of his extremities, his
abdomen, and his blood, a condition that normally proves fatal;
after numerous surgeries and transfusions, he was transferred
to Walter Reed Army Medical Center to start undergoing physical
therapy, occupational therapy, and aquatic therapy on August
10, 2010; he underwent in-patient care until February 28, 2011,
when his mother arrived to be his non-medical assistant; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck has received numerous medals and
commendations for his meritorious service, including two
Purple Hearts, two Combat Action Ribbons, two Iraq Companion
Medals, two Sea Services Metals, the Afghanistan Companion
Medal, the Good Conduct Metal, the NATO Metal, and the
Meritorious Mast, as well as numerous letters of appreciation
and numerous challenge coins; and
WHEREAS, Cpl. John Peck serves as a model of hard work,
integrity, and dedication for the people of the State of
Illinois; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that

HR0215 - 4 - LRB097 11294 GRL 53347 r
we honor United States Marine Corps Corporal John M. Peck for
his service and wish him the best in his future endeavors; and
be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to Cpl. John Peck as a symbol of our esteem and
respect.