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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING HENRY J. "HANK" RUTKOWSKI, SR.ON THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DOWNING OF THE BLANCO DIABLO
WHEREAS, Henry J. "Hank" Rutkowski, Sr., of the Archer Heights neighborhood in Chicago, is a decorated World War II veteran and former prisoner of war; and
WHEREAS, Hank Rutkowski enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps in 1943 at age 17; and
WHEREAS, Hank Rutkowski achieved the rank of Sergeant and served in the European Theater of Operations; and
WHEREAS, on December 6, 1944, while serving aboard a B-17 flying fortress named the Blanco Diablo, Hank Rutkowski and his crew were shot down shortly after bombing oil refineries in Marsberg, Germany; and
WHEREAS, the nine-member crew of the Blanco Diablo was forced to bail out and lost one crew member; and
WHEREAS, the surviving members of Hank Rutkowski's crew were captured by German forces near Meppel, Netherlands and transported to a prison in Barth Germany; and
WHEREAS, Hank Rutkowski and his crew were eventually freed by the Russian Army on May 8, 1945; and
WHEREAS, Hank Rutkowski received the Good Conduct Medal, the Air Medal, the European Theater of War Medal and the POW Medal; and
WHEREAS, following the war, Hank Rutkowski worked for 40 years at Schulze & Birch at 1133 W. 35th Street and retired in 1993; and
WHEREAS, every year Hank Rutkowski and his family have given thanks for his safe return home and for the example of his service and sacrifice for his country.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the President and Cook County Board of Commissioners do hereby express their deep gratitude for the sacrifices of Hank Rutkowski, the crew of the Blanco Diablo and their loved ones have made on behalf of this great country; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Hank Rutkowski in recognition of the service and sacrifice of the crew of the Blanco Diablo and the high esteem in which these men are held by th...
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