RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, James E. O'Donnell has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 92; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, An active member of his community and church. James E. O'Donnell was the devoted husband of seventy years to Mary Alice; and
WHEREAS, James E. O'Donnell was the much-adored father of James, Thomas, Timothy and Mary Theresa, proud grandfather of eleven and loving great-grandfather of eight, to whom he imparted many of the fine and noble qualities that he possessed in abundance; and
WHEREAS, Indianapolis native James E. O'Donnell joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served aboard the U.S.S. Indianapolis as a Water Tender Third Class; and
WHEREAS, On July 30. 1945, four days after delivering parts for the atomic bomb that would be used to attack the Japanese city of Hiroshima, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was torpedoed and sunk in the Philippine Sea by a Japanese submarine; and
WHEREAS, By the time the U.S.S. Bassett arrived on the scene on August 2, only 317 ofthe 1,200 sailors on board had survived the submarine attack and the shark-infested waters; and
WHEREAS, James E. O'Donnell was the only resident of Indiana aboard the cruiser to survive; and
WHEREAS, In recognition of his exemplary service and bravery. James E. O'Donnell received the Purple Heart, the Asiatic Pacific Medal with five stars and the Medal of Peace; and
WHEREAS, After his discharge from the Navy in 1946, James E. O'Donnell returned home and rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the course of his 35 years of outstanding service, with the Indianapolis Fire Department; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of James E. O'Donnell serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, His love of life and ability to live it to the fullest endeared James E. O'Donnell to his family members, friends and all who knew him, and enabled him to enrich their lives in ways they will never forget; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, James E. O'Donnell imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we. the Mayor and the members ofthe Chicago City Council, assembled this seventeenth day of January, 2013, do hereby commemorate James E. O'Donnell for his grace-filled life and do hereby express our condolences to his family; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy ofthis resolution be presented to the family of James E. O'Donnell. _
