House Concurrent Resolution 76

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION HONORING THE DISTINGUISHED AND HONORABLE SERVICE OF WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND PURPLE HEART RECIPIENT MR. A.C. MCKENZIE, SR., AND THANKING HIM FOR HIS BRAVERY AND SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES.

WHEREAS, Mr. A.C. McKenzie, Sr., is a Purple Heart recipient who served bravely and honorably during World War II by laying his life on the line daily to protect this great nation and its citizens; and

WHEREAS, a native of Raymond, Mississippi, a young A.C. McKenzie was born December 7, 1924, to the late Mr. Rueben McKenzie and Mrs. Edith Green McKenzie, with 12 siblings; and

WHEREAS, his parents and family raised A.C. to value education and to live as a man of valor as a steadfast Christian should with support from Midway and Mount Moriah schools, and his spiritual foundation was solidified at Little Zion Missionary Baptist Church, where he still remains a devout member as well as a faithful deacon; and

WHEREAS, at the tender age of 12-years-old, a young A.C. was forced to quickly mature when his mother passed and he realized his father needed assistance with his younger siblings, so A.C. stepped up to help his father care for his younger siblings until he left home at the age of 18 to protect and serve our country; and

WHEREAS, after affirming the oath of the United States Army on October 20, 1943, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Mr. McKenzie completed basic training and was subsequently transferred to Fort Devens, Massachusetts, for 30 consecutive days of maneuver training before being dispatched from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on July 1, 1944, with the 438th Quartermaster Gas Supply Company and arrived in France nearly two weeks later; and

WHEREAS, during actual combat from September 1944 to May 1945, Mr. McKenzie's company was attacked during a routine operation on the Ramagen Bridge and a bomb struck the artillery truck he was driving and killed several members of his squadron and injured countless others; and

WHEREAS, Mr. McKenzie was unaware of the ensuing events of the attack until he awakened at the Army General Hospital in Germany, and was informed that he was knocked unconscious by the forceful impact of the explosion and endured a severe wound when struck by the bomb's flying shrapnel; and

WHEREAS, he remained in Germany in the hospital until July 1946, when he was honorably discharged as a Buck Sergeant from military service as a result of his injury and returned to Fort Bragg on August 2, 1946, a decorated war veteran who had advanced three ranks during his two years of active duty action; and

WHEREAS, upon returning home, Mr. McKenzie once again helped his father with his siblings and on the family farm; and

WHEREAS, soon after his return, Mr. McKenzie met the love of his life, Ms. Edna Ruth Stokes, becoming bone of one another's bone and flesh of one another's flesh in marriage on November 22, 1947, and they journeyed on to build a lifetime of memories to be shared with the fruitful addition of 13 children and shared in life's momentous occasions until it was orchestrated by God in divine providence to summon the life of Mrs. Edna Ruth Stokes McKenzie to eternal paradise in 1994; and

WHEREAS, after many of his children reached adulthood, Mr. McKenzie began working with Anderson Tully and later, with International Paper Company before assuming employment with People and Green Construction Company, where he earned an apprenticeship in concrete finishing, and also worked on the Interstate 20 highway project that constructed the traverse ways from Jackson to Louisiana; and

WHEREAS, at 90-plus years of age, this war hero, father, grandfather and great-grandfather still maintains a vibrant and active lifestyle gardening and tending to his livestock, but most importantly cherishing the moments shared with his children, grandchildren, siblings and friends; and

WHEREAS, "O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave" as it continues to wave gloriously in the life and nomenclature of a war veteran and community hero encapsulated in the lineal fabric and enduring legacy of Mr. McKenzie, whose journey is a testament of a life well lived in service to others, to this nation and to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to celebrate the lives of our Mississippi heroes, who have made our state and country proud:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY the House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi, the Senate concurring therein, That we do hereby commend the distinguished and selfless service of World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient, Mr. A.C. McKenzie, Sr., and thank him for his bravery and service to the United States of America.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. A.C. McKenzie, Sr., his family and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.