TRIBUTE TO LATE MILTON LEE OLIVE, III AND THE 173™ ARMY AIRBORNE BRIGADE
WHEREAS, Milton Lee Olive, III (November 7,1946 - October 22,1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of America's highest military decoration - the Medal of Honor - for his actions in the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, Olive joined the Army from his birth city of Chicago, Illinois in 1964, and by 1965 was serving as a Private First Class in Company B of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade; and
WHEREAS, On October 22,1965, while moving through the jungle with four fellow soldiers in Phu Cuong, Olive sacrificed his life by smothering an enemy-thrown grenade with his body; and
WHEREAS, For his actions on that day, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor; and
WHEREAS, At a ceremony on the steps of the White House, on April 21,1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson presented Olive's Medal of Honor to his father and stepmother; and
WHEREAS, Olive's extraordinary heroism, giving his life to save the lives of his fellow soldiers is above and beyond the call of duty and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army; and
WHEREAS, The men who were saved by Olive's sacrifice will be honoring him on October 22, 2015 at Olive Park during an event to celebrate the relationship the soldiers shared; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of this event by the Honorable James A. Balcer, Alderman of the 11th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Milton Lee Olive, III and his fellow soldiers in Company B of the 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade leave a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity and should be celebrated for their sacrifice; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council gathered here this fifteenth day of April 2015, do hereby express our gratitude for the sacrifice of Milton Lee Olive, III and offer our best wishes to his fellow soldiers during their celebra...
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