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TO EXPRESS BEST WISHES OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SENATE TO MR. JAMES RAWLINGS DIXON OF BENNETTSVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA AND TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR HIS LONG LIFE OF SERVICE TO HIS COUNTRY, STATE, AND COMMUNITY.
Whereas, James Rawlings Dixon was born in Bartow, Florida on February 11, 1922, to Guy O. Dixon and Annie Dozier Dixon. He was second to the oldest of seven children; and
Whereas, as a teen he moved with his family to Bonneau, South Carolina; and
Whereas, in 1944 Mr. Dixon enlisted into the Air Force and completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and flight training at Kessler Field, Mississippi; Los Vegas Air Base, Nevada; Avon Park Air Base, Florida; Tampa Air Base, Florida; and Savannah Air Base, Georgia; and
Whereas, Mr. Dixon was sent overseas to help defend this nation, and he was stationed as a member of the Eighth Air Force at Glatton Air Base in England; and
Whereas, Mr. Dixon served as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 bomber, also known as a Flying Fortress. It was Mr. Dixon's duty to fly in the ball turret of the bomber plane, over enemy territory and fire upon enemy targets; and
Whereas, on his fifteenth mission, his plane was shot down over enemy territory in Cologne, Germany. Two crew members died in the crash; and
Whereas, surrounded by German soldiers and taken prisoner at gun point, Mr. Dixon spent seven months in two Germany camps, until he was liberated by Russian forces at the end of World War II. Mr. Dixon was discharged and returned to his hometown of Bonneau, S.C.; and
Whereas, in 1954 he and his brother founded Dixon Construction Company in Bennettsville, S.C., still in operation today; and
Whereas, he has been married to Ella Louise Blackman Dixon for sixty-one years and together they have three children, Becky Jackson, Jane Walker, and Tommy Dixon. They also have five grandchildren and one great grandchild; and
Whereas, he is a member and deacon of Thomas Memorial Baptist Church and also a member of the Rotary Club, Friends of Camp Pinehill, and a POW support group; and
Whereas he is an avid supporter of his local food pantry and civic center and he also supplies family and friends with fresh vegetables from his garden every summer; and
Whereas, it is fitting and proper for the members of the Senate to pause in their deliberations to recognize the many good works of this fine South Carolinian. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate:
That the members of the Senate, by this resolution, express best wishes to Mr. James Rawlings Dixon of Bennettsville, South Carolina and express appreciation for his long life of service to his country, State, and community.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to James Rawlings Dixon.
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