Bill Text: PA HR556 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring First Sergeant of the United States Army, Leonard A. Funk, Jr., for his courage and heroism during World War II.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2009-12-09 - Adopted [HR556 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2009-HR556-Introduced.html

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PRINTER'S NO. 2970
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No. 556 Session of2009
INTRODUCED BY CASORIO, GERGELY AND KORTZ, DECEMBER 8, 2009
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, DECEMBER 8, 2009
A RESOLUTION
Honoring First Sergeant of the United States Army, Leonard A.
Funk, Jr., for his courage and heroism during World War II.
WHEREAS, Leonard A. Funk, Jr., was a war hero who deserves
recognition for his efforts in service to the United States
during World War II; and
WHEREAS, Leonard A. Funk, Jr., was born August 17, 1916, in
Braddock Township; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Funk enlisted in the United States Army in
June 1941 and volunteered for airborne training; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Funk fought in World War II, where he
served in the Normandy Invasion in 1944; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Funk's service with the airborne unit took
him through Belgium, across the Rhine River in Germany and to
the banks of the Elbe River, where his unit waited to enter
Berlin as World War II came to an end; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Funk was among the British and United
States soldiers who were dropped into Holland during Operation
Market Garden in an attempt to secure bridges over the Rhine
into Germany, and he earned a Distinguished Service Cross medal
for leading his men in an attack on an enemy strong point; and
WHEREAS, Three months after the Battle of the Bulge, Sergeant
Funk became his company's First Sergeant; and
WHEREAS, First Sergeant Funk was responsible for saving many
members of his unit from capture or death at the hands of the
Germans in January 1945; and
WHEREAS, During the drive to capture Holzheim, Belgium, First
Sergeant Funk's 82nd Airborne Division captured more than 80
German prisoners; and
WHEREAS, For his courageous service in the Ardennes, First
Sergeant Funk received the Medal of Honor at the White House in
August of 1945 from President Harry Truman; and
WHEREAS, First Sergeant Funk's other medals included the
Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, three
Purple Hearts with two Oak Leaf clusters, the Good Conduct
Medal, a Presidential Unit Citation, the American Defense
Service Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal with
Arrowhead and four Bronze Campaign Stars, a Combat Infantry
Badge, a Parachutist Badge, Chevalier de L'Ordre de Leopold II
avec palme, Croix de Guerre avec palme by the Belgium
government, Belgium Fourragere, French Fourragere and
Netherlands Orange Lanyard; and
WHEREAS, First Sergeant Funk was discharged from the Army in
June 1945 and returned home to Pennsylvania to work as a clerk;
and
WHEREAS, Two years later First Sergeant Funk went to work for
the United States Veterans Administration, where he retired as a
Division Chief in the Pittsburgh Regional Office in 1972; and
WHEREAS, At the time of his death, First Sergeant Funk was
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the sole surviving 82nd Airborne Division World War II Medal of
Honor recipient; and
WHEREAS, First Sergeant Funk passed away on November 27, 1992
and now lies at rest in the Arlington National Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, First Sergeant Funk epitomized courage and
patriotism; and
WHEREAS, According to officials at Fort Bragg, First Sergeant
Funk is the most decorated hero of World War II, an honor
usually ascribed to Audie Murphy, who is listed second to him in
decorations; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor First
Sergeant of the United States Army, Leonard A. Funk, Jr., for
his courage and heroism during World War II.
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