Bill > SJR0003

This resolution honors First Lieutenant James F. Claussen, a World War II U.S. Army pilot who was killed in action in 1945, by designating a two-mile stretch of Illinois Route 3 (between mile markers 20 and 22, near Rockwood) as the "1LT James F. Claussen Memorial Highway". The resolution provides background on Claussen's military service, noting that he voluntarily enlisted in 1940, initially hoping to become a paratrooper, and later became a pilot who flew seven combat missions over Europe. On March 24, 1945, during Operation Varsity, Claussen was killed while flying a C-46 Commando aircraft after successfully dropping paratroopers, despite his initial service commitment having already ended. The resolution requests the Illinois Department of Transportation to erect appropriate signage marking the highway and directs that copies of the resolution be presented to Claussen's family and the department's secretary, serving as a formal recognition of Claussen's military sacrifice and posthumous honors, which included the Air Medal, American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Purple Heart.

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=3&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SJR&SessionID=114&GA=104