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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE LIFE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALBERT LEON MAMPRE
WHEREAS, Albert Leon Mampre, the last living medic from World War II's Easy Company has died at the age of 97. Easy Company was part of the 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. It was made famous by the Stephen Ambrose book and HBO series, "Band of Brothers"; and
WHEREAS, Al Mampre was awarded a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts for his service. He survived two sniper bullets after venturing into an active battle scene to lie down next to a wounded Lieutenant. Dutch civilians came to their rescue and took them to the relative safety of a Dutch home where they were treated for their injuries; and
WHEREAS after his recovery, Mr. Mampre served at regiment headquarters during the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, France. Mr. Mampre became a medic because, as he put it, he was good at "pluggin' holes, not makin' holes." He reflected that he had learned many of the skills required to be a medic in his training as a Boy Scout, except for giving shots, which he learned by practicing on oranges. The training was mostly common sense. "Guy's got a hole in his chest? Put your hand over it so it doesn't suck air. Basic stuff"; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mampre was among 35,000 paratroopers and glider troops who rained from the sky over Europe in Operation Market Garden. He recalled taking refuge in a doorway to evade German machine gun fire. While he waited, the door opened a crack and the woman inside handed him a spoonful of cherries. He never saw her face or knew who she was; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mampre was known among his fellow soldiers as funny, kind, humble, and an engaging storyteller. He never liked the word "hero" and never saw himself as one. He was genuinely selfless. Everyone loved being around him; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mampre grew up in Oak Park, the son of immigrants from the Armenian diaspora. His mother Viola came from Baghdad. His father N...
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