South Carolina General Assembly
120th Session, 2013-2014
H. 5381
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Kennedy, Alexander, Allison, Anderson, Anthony, Atwater, Bales, Ballentine, Bannister, Barfield, Bedingfield, Bernstein, Bingham, Bowen, Bowers, Branham, Brannon, G.A.Brown, R.L.Brown, Burns, Chumley, Clemmons, Clyburn, CobbHunter, Cole, H.A.Crawford, K.R.Crawford, Crosby, Daning, Delleney, Dillard, Douglas, Edge, Erickson, Felder, Finlay, Forrester, Funderburk, Gagnon, Gambrell, George, Gilliard, Goldfinch, Govan, Hamilton, Hardee, Hardwick, Harrell, Hart, Hayes, Henderson, Herbkersman, Hiott, Hixon, Hodges, Horne, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jefferson, King, Knight, Limehouse, Loftis, Long, Lowe, Lucas, Mack, McCoy, McEachern, M.S.McLeod, W.J.McLeod, Merrill, Mitchell, D.C.Moss, V.S.Moss, Munnerlyn, Murphy, Nanney, Neal, Newton, Norman, Norrell, R.L.Ott, Owens, Parks, Patrick, Pitts, Pope, Putnam, Quinn, Ridgeway, Riley, Rivers, RobinsonSimpson, Rutherford, Ryhal, Sabb, Sandifer, Sellers, Simrill, Skelton, G.M.Smith, G.R.Smith, J.E.Smith, J.R.Smith, Sottile, Southard, Spires, Stavrinakis, Stringer, Tallon, Taylor, Thayer, Toole, Vick, Weeks, Wells, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Williams, Willis and Wood
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1675sd14.docx
Introduced in the House on June 5, 2014
Adopted by the House on June 5, 2014
Summary: Joseph Calhoun Watson
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
DateBodyAction Description with journal page number
6/5/2014HouseIntroduced and adopted (House Journalpage78)
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
6/5/2014
AHOUSE RESOLUTION
TO HONOR JOSEPH CALHOUN “JOE CAL” WATSON OF RIDGE SPRING, WORLD WAR II ARMY VETERAN, FOR HIS FAITHFUL MILITARY SERVICE DURING WORLD WAR II AND TO WISH HIM WELL AS HE RETURNS TO NORMANDY TO COMMEMORATE THE SEVENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF DDAY.
Whereas, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, on behalf of all South Carolinians, acknowledge with deep appreciation the great sacrifice that the men and women of the United States Armed Forces make for the ideals of freedom and justice, which are so richly enjoyed in this nation; and
Whereas, Ridge Spring’s Joseph Calhoun “Joe Cal” Watson, World War II Army veteran of DDay,stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and
Whereas, born in Ridge Spring on April 4, 1923, Joe Cal attended Clemson, then a military college, and joined the Army Reserve. Called up in 1943, he went overseas in November 1944 and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and through Germany. He was wounded and received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. This man of characteris proud to have a nephew with the same kind of integrity named after him, Joseph Calhoun “Cal” Watson, who is president of the South Carolina Bar; and
Whereas, on Monday, June 2, 2014, Joe Cal Watson and twentyone other World War II veterans, eighteen of them South Carolina residents, returned to Normandy for the seventieth anniversary of DDay. Joined by millions of veterans, families, and history enthusiasts from around the world, they will participate in the commemoration of that unforgettable day in history; and
Whereas, more than five million people are expected to flock to the rural beaches of northern France and nearby towns with familiar names: St. Mere Eglise, SaintLo, Caen. Among the dignitaries planning to attend the ceremonies are Queen Elizabeth of England and U.S. President Barack Obama; and
Whereas, onJune 6, 1944, the DDay landings occurred on five beaches, Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold, and Juno, over a fiftymile stretch of the Normandy coastline. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. An estimated 2,500 Americans died in Operation Overlord, as the invasion was codenamed, and more than 1,900 from the other Allied nations were killed. Three weeks later, more than 850,000 men, 148,000 vehicles, and 570,000 tons of supplies had been delivered across the beaches, forming a historic force that ultimately conquered in the long conflict; and
Whereas, during this seventiethanniversary visit, Joe Cal Watson and his fellow veterans will visit the invasion beaches and the wartorn inland towns, attend the ceremonies, and end with a triumphant visit to Paris. They will be accompanied by a reporter for The State newspaper and a documentary film crew funded by the South Carolina ETV Endowment; and
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives counts it a great privilege to salute Joe Cal Watson and wish him well as he visits the significant sites associated with DDay during the seventiethanniversary commemoration of that historic event, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and sacrifice of this heroic son of liberty. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, honor Joseph Calhoun “Joe Cal” Watson of Ridge Spring, World War II Army veteran, for his faithful military service during World War II and wish him well as he returns to Normandy to commemorate the seventieth anniversary of DDay.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be provided to Joe Cal Watson.
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