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S. 1198

STATUS INFORMATION

Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Senator Gambrell
Document Path: l:\council\bills\rm\1533zw20.docx

Introduced in the Senate on May 12, 2020
Introduced in the House on May 12, 2020
Adopted by the General Assembly on May 12, 2020

Summary: Corporal William James McCollum

HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

     Date      Body   Action Description with journal page number
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   5/12/2020  Senate  Introduced, adopted, sent to House 
                        (Senate Journal-page 30)
   5/12/2020  House   Introduced, adopted, returned with concurrence

View the latest legislative information at the website

VERSIONS OF THIS BILL

5/12/2020

TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE SUPREME SACRIFICE MADE BY CORPORAL WILLIAM JAMES MCCOLLUM OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY WHILE HE WAS SERVING A TOUR OF MILITARY DUTY IN NORTH KOREA AND TO EXPRESS TO HIS FAMILY THE DEEPEST APPRECIATION OF A GRATEFUL STATE AND NATION FOR HIS LIFE, SACRIFICE, AND SERVICE.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, 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, Corporal William James McCollum of the United States Army stands high among those servicemen and women so honored by their country; and

Whereas, answering the call of his country, he left his home in Anderson County to serve abroad as a part of the Korean War. As a committed serviceman, Corporal William James McCollum was assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, 31st Regimental Combat Team during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir; and

Whereas, on December 2, 1950, Corporal McCollum went missing in action during his unit's convoy withdrawal from Sinhung-ni to Hagaru-ri, North Korea, on the east side of the Chosin Reservoir. Specific details regarding his loss were unknown at the time. Corporal McCollum's remains were not located or identified from among those returned to U.S. custody following the war. On July 27, 2018, following the summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un in June 2018, North Korea returned fifty-five boxes of remains to U.S. custody. One box containing remains was recovered from the South Hamgyong Province of North Korea, which DPAA analysts associated with the 31st RCT perimeter on the east side of the Chosin Reservoir. Using laboratory analysis and circumstantial evidence, DPAA analysts identified Corporal McCollum from among these remains, and he was accounted for in September 2019; and

Whereas, at the age of only nineteen, this valiant young soldier went missing in action just days after he was deployed and ultimately lost his life for the cause of freedom. In tribute to his sacrificial service, Corporal McCollum is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, and he has been awarded the Purple Heart. His remains will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery; and

Whereas, there is no greater or more courageous sacrifice a man can make than to lay down his life for a noble cause, as did Corporal William James McCollum; and

Whereas, the South Carolina General Assembly counts it a great privilege to remember Corporal William James McCollum, one of the Palmetto State's finest, and the members with one voice offer their grateful thanks to Almighty God for the service and ultimate sacrifice of this heroic son of South Carolina. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, honor and remember the supreme sacrifice made by Corporal William James McCollum of the United States Army while he was serving a tour of military duty in North Korea and express to his family the deepest appreciation of a grateful State and nation for his life, sacrifice, and service.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of Corporal William James McCollum.

This web page was last updated on May 13, 2020 at 4:52 PM