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H. 5316
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Lourie, Allen, Altman, Anthony, Bailey, Bales, Barfield, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Branham, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, R. Brown, Cato, Ceips, Chellis, Clark, Clemmons, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Duncan, Edge, Emory, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hagood, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, Herbkersman, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, Jennings, Keegan, Kennedy, Kirsh, Koon, Leach, Lee, Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lucas, Mack, Mahaffey, Martin, McCraw, McGee, McLeod, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Pinson, E.H. Pitts, M.A. Pitts, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, Richardson, Rivers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Simrill, Sinclair, Skelton, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, G.R. Smith, J.E. Smith, J.R. Smith, W.D. Smith, Snow, Stewart, Stille, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Toole, Townsend, Tripp, Trotter, Umphlett, Vaughn, Viers, Walker, Weeks, Whipper, White, Whitmire, Wilkins, Witherspoon and Young
Document Path: l:\council\bills\gjk\21258sd04.doc
Introduced in the House on May 19, 2004
Introduced in the Senate on May 19, 2004
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 19, 2004
Summary: Michael Edwin Thornton
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5/19/2004 House Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate HJ-35 5/19/2004 Senate Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence SJ-33
View the latest legislative information at the LPITS web site
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
TO COMMEND THE EXTRAORDINARY HEROISM OF NAVY PETTY OFFICER MICHAEL EDWIN THORNTON, A NATIVE OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, WHO WAS AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOR VALOR IN THE VIETNAM CONFLICT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT CAN BE BESTOWED UPON A MEMBER OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE UNITED STATES.
Whereas, throughout our nation's history, men and women in all eras from Concord and Lexington to Falleujah have gone in harm's way to protect and secure our country's freedom and way of life; and
Whereas, to recognize extraordinary heroism the Congress of the United States established the Medal of Honor which represents the highest award for valor that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States; and
Whereas, there have been more than three thousand four hundred recipients but fewer than one hundred forty remain with us today; and
Whereas, most recipients of the medal are ordinary Americans from ordinary backgrounds who, under extraordinary circumstances and at great risk to their own lives, performed an incredible act or a series of acts of conspicuous valor that clearly sets them apart from their comrades; and
Whereas, thirty-seven citizens with South Carolina roots have received the Medal of Honor since its inception; and
Whereas, Navy Petty Officer Michael Edwin Thornton is one of these heroes who fortunately is with us today; and
Whereas, Petty Officer Thornton received his Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while participating in a daring operation against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam in October 1972; and
Whereas, Petty Officer Thornton, as Assistant United States Navy Advisor, along with a United States Navy Lieutenant serving as Senior Advisor, accompanied a three-man Vietnamese Navy SEAL patrol on an intelligence gathering and prisoner capture operation against an enemy-occupied naval river base; and
Whereas, his patrol called in naval gunfire support against the river base and then engaged the enemy in a fierce firefight, accounting for many enemy casualties before moving back to the waterline to prevent encirclement; and
Whereas, upon learning that the Senior Advisor had been hit by enemy fire and was believed to be dead, Petty Officer Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant's last position, quickly disposed of two enemy soldiers about to overrun the position, and succeeded in removing the seriously wounded and unconscious Senior Naval Advisor to the water's edge; and
Whereas, he then inflated the lieutenant's lifejacket and towed him seaward for approximately two hours until picked up by support craft; and
Whereas, the members of the General Assembly, by this resolution, would like to publicly recognize and honor Navy Petty Officer Michael Edwin Thornton, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, this brave and courageous American for his extraordinary heroism in the defense of our country and her ideals which epitomizes the very best of what America stands for. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly commend the extraordinary heroism of Navy Petty Officer Michael Edwin Thornton, a native of Greenville, South Carolina, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor in the Vietnam Conflict, which is the highest award that can be bestowed upon a member of the armed forces of the United States.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Petty Officer Michael Edwin Thornton, a native of Greenville, South Carolina.
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