S*1473 Resolution, By Moore
 A SENATE RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LOUIS JULIAN HATCHER FOR HIS
 COURAGEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COUNTRY WHILE SERVING AS A PETTY OFFICER IN
 THE UNITED STATES NAVY DURING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND TO WISH HIM ALL
 THE BEST IN THE COMING YEARS.

   06/14/06  Senate Introduced and adopted SJ-67

TO RECOGNIZE AND HONOR LOUIS JULIAN HATCHER FOR HIS COURAGEOUS CONTRIBUTIONS TO HIS COUNTRY WHILE SERVING AS A PETTY OFFICER IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY DURING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR AND TO WISH HIM ALL THE BEST IN THE COMING YEARS.

Whereas, it is with great pride that the South Carolina Senate commends those individuals who selflessly serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, putting themselves in the literal line of fire in benefit of this great Nation; and

Whereas, before his service in the Navy, Mr. Hatcher worked in the weave room of Granite Division of Graniteville Company, making thirty cents an hour. Aspiring to greater ambitions, Mr. Hatcher enlisted in the United States Navy on December 1, 1937, and after a year of boot camp and training as a boiler operator, he joined the crew of the USS Honolulu in New York; and

Whereas, a devoted husband, Mr. Hatcher shares a loving marriage with the former Zoe A. Jones of Langley, South Carolina; and

Whereas, on the fateful day of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Mr. Hatcher and fellow boiler operators were responsible for producing steam in the boilers so that the ship could move out of the harbor. With full power produced three times faster than was thought safely possible, Petty Officer Hatcher played a large part in getting the ship out of harm's way during the attack; and

Whereas, Mr. Hatcher remained aboard the USS Honolulu until September 1943, and was involved in numerous battles in the South Pacific, including the Battles of Tassafaronga, Sunda Straight, Kula Gulf, and Kolombangara; and

Whereas, thereafter attending naval school in Miami, Florida, Mr. Hatcher was transferred to the USS Hubbard in Charleston, South Carolina, a ship which escorted convoys in the North Atlantic for the remainder of World War II and was credited with sinking two German submarines; and

Whereas, Mr. Hatcher was discharged after the war and worked for a short time in the Georgetown paper mill before returning to his wife and home in Graniteville, South Carolina. With his acquired skills as a boiler operator during the war, Mr. Hatcher became a boiler operator of the Stevens Steam Plant, where he was quickly promoted to Shift Foreman and eventually became the Assistant Plant Superintendent and Superintendent; and

Whereas, his position as Superintendent is particularly noteworthy, as he remains the only person ever to lead the plant without a college degree; and

Whereas, active within his community, Mr. Hatcher is a life member of the American Legion Post Samuel H. Swint Post 77 in Graniteville and the South Carolina Department of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association; and

Whereas, he is serving on the Board of Directors for the Empty Valley Stocking Fund for the past fifteen years, and is a member of St. James Lutheran Church; and

Whereas, the Senate stands humbled by Mr. Hatcher's immeasurable contributions to the security of the Nation and honors him for his heroism. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, recognize and honor Louis Julian Hatcher for his courageous contributions to his country while serving as a Petty Officer in the United States Navy during the attack on Pearl Harbor, and wish him all the best in the coming years.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Mr. Louis Julian Hatcher.