Bill Text: OR HJM17 | 2013 | Regular Session | Enrolled

Oregon House Joint Memorial 17 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Urging Congress to direct Pentagon to reopen and review Leonard DeWitt's nomination for Medal of Honor.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-17 - Filed with Secretary of State. [HJM17 Detail]

Download: Oregon-2013-HJM17-Enrolled.html



     77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session

                            Enrolled

                     House Joint Memorial 17

Sponsored by Representative WEIDNER; Representatives BAILEY,
  BARKER, BARNHART, BARTON, BENTZ, BERGER, BOONE, BUCKLEY,
  CAMERON, CLEM, CONGER, DAVIS, DEMBROW, DOHERTY, ESQUIVEL,
  FAGAN, FREDERICK, FREEMAN, GALLEGOS, GARRETT, GELSER, GILLIAM,
  GOMBERG, GORSEK, HANNA, HARKER, HICKS, HOLVEY, HOYLE, HUFFMAN,
  JENSON, JOHNSON, KENNEMER, KENY-GUYER, KOMP, KOTEK, KRIEGER,
  LIVELY, MATTHEWS, MCKEOWN, MCLANE, NATHANSON, OLSON, PARRISH,
  REARDON, SMITH, SPRENGER, THATCHER, THOMPSON, TOMEI, UNGER,
  VEGA PEDERSON, WHISNANT, WHITSETT, WILLIAMSON, WITT, Senators
  BAERTSCHIGER JR, BOQUIST, CLOSE, COURTNEY, DEVLIN, DINGFELDER,
  FERRIOLI, GEORGE, GIROD, HANSELL, HASS, JOHNSON, KNOPP, KRUSE,
  MONNES ANDERSON, OLSEN, PROZANSKI, ROBLAN, ROSENBAUM, STARR,
  STEINER HAYWARD, THOMSEN, WHITSETT

To the President of the United States and the Senate and the
  House of Representatives of the United States of America, in
  Congress assembled:
  We, your memorialists, the Seventy-seventh Legislative Assembly
of the State of Oregon, in legislative session assembled,
respectfully represent as follows:
  Whereas Leonard DeWitt served with the famed 41st Infantry '
Sunset' Division of the Army National Guard during World War II;
and
  Whereas Leonard DeWitt defended a ridge in New Guinea against
massing Japanese soldiers; and
  Whereas Leonard DeWitt took personal initiative,
single-handedly attacking the Japanese troops before they could
sweep his company off the ridge; and
  Whereas Leonard DeWitt engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat to
protect his fellow soldiers and maintain the American position;
and
  Whereas the commanding general of the Sixth Army approved the
nomination of Leonard DeWitt for the Medal of Honor, stating that
' Sergeant DeWitt's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above
and beyond the call of duty are worthy of the highest
recognition'; and
  Whereas the Medal of Honor nomination languished on the desk of
General Douglas MacArthur; and
  Whereas Leonard DeWitt was awarded the Distinguished Service
Cross, the United States Army's second-highest honor; and
  Whereas 70 years after the battle, Leonard DeWitt's heroism is
still deserving of the highest recognition and honor; now,
therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of
  Oregon:

  (1) We, the members of the Seventy-seventh Legislative
Assembly, assert that not awarding Leonard DeWitt the Medal of
Honor for his actions against Japanese forces in New Guinea
during World War II was a regrettable oversight.

Enrolled House Joint Memorial 17 (HJM 17-INTRO)            Page 1

  (2) The Congress of the United States of America is
respectfully urged to direct the Pentagon to reopen and review
Leonard DeWitt's Medal of Honor nomination and upgrade his
Distinguished Service Cross to a Medal of Honor due to the
oversight that allowed his Medal of Honor nomination package to
languish after being approved by his commanding general.
  (3) A copy of this memorial shall be sent to the President of
the United States, to the Senate Majority Leader, to the Speaker
of the House of Representatives and to each member of the Oregon
Congressional Delegation.
                         ----------

                                  Adopted by House May 23, 2013

                               ----------------------------------
                                 Ramona J. Line, Chief Clerk of
                                              House

                               ----------------------------------
                                  Tina Kotek, Speaker of House

                                 Adopted by Senate June 13, 2013

                               ----------------------------------
                                  Peter Courtney, President of
                                             Senate

Enrolled House Joint Memorial 17 (HJM 17-INTRO)            Page 2