House Resolution 10

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE RENDERED TO THIS STATE AND NATION BY WORLD WAR II VETERAN AND LONGTIME CHOCTAW COUNTY RESIDENT, MR. J.D. BURCHFIELD, UPON THE MOST AUSPICIOUS OCCASION OF HIS 98TH BIRTHDAY, ON JANUARY 31, 2020.

WHEREAS, the Town of Ackerman, Mississippi, and the City of Clinton, Mississippi, are proud to be considered the homes of community friend, historical legend and decorated World War II veteran, Mr. J.D. Burchfield, and are delighted to join the gesture of the Mississippi House of Representatives extending congratulations upon the most auspicious occasion of his 98th birthday; and

WHEREAS, from his humble beginnings in Attala County, Mississippi, as one of eight children born to his late parents, Mr. James Homer and Mrs. Ray Bell Burchfield on January 31, 1922, Mr. Burchfield was raised on the premier tenets of faith, education and perseverance, along with his brother and six sisters; and

WHEREAS, after graduating from Ethel High School in 1941, Mr. Burchfield commenced his postsecondary matriculation at Holmes Junior College, but was summoned to answer the patriotic call of duty, proving to be both a distinguished officer and gentleman, when he was drafted into the United States Army in November 1942, where he completed basic training at Camp Shelby (Hattiesburg, Mississippi) and additional training at Fort Cronkhite (San Francisco, California) and Fort Ord (Monterey Bay, California), and shouldered the privilege of upholding the banner of protecting the rights and freedoms afforded us in the iconic symbol of Lady Liberty from 1943 to 1945 while serving during World War II in three key battles in the Pacific Theater that proved instrumental to the United States and Allied Forces' victory over Japan; and

WHEREAS, in May 1943, Mr. Burchfield fought in the Battle of Attu in the United States Territory of Alaska, the only land battle of World War II fought on American soil, during which American forces retook the island from the Japanese Imperial Army forces after 19 days of battle involving brutal hand-to-hand combat with 549 soldier casualties and more than 1,200 injured; and

WHEREAS, in January and February 1944, Mr. Burchfield was deployed to the Marshall Islands and fought in the Battle of Kwajalein, during which American forces launched a successful twin assault on the main islands of Kwajalein in the south and Roi-Namur in the north, resulting in a key advancement in the Allied Forces' island hopping march to Japan, which resulted in the loss of 348 American soldiers, with another 1,462 injured and 183 missing in action; and

WHEREAS, from October to December 1944, Mr. Burchfield was deployed to the Philippines where he fought and was wounded in the Battle of Leyte, the first and most decisive operation in the American conquest of the Philippines, where 3,504 soldiers were killed in action, nearly 12,000 wounded and 89 missing; and

WHEREAS, upon being treated in the South Pacific for his bullet wound, Mr. Burchfield's reentry into the United States would be processed in Seattle, Washington, before his return to Camp Shelby and ultimately reuniting with his family in Attala County in November 1945; and

WHEREAS, having received an honorable discharge from his active military service in November 1945, Mr. Burchfield readjusted to life as a proud civilian who, having paid his societal dues on the front lines of battle, resumed his collegiate matriculation, enrolling in Mississippi State College, from which he graduated in 1949; and

WHEREAS, in 1950, the gallant and chivalrous Mr. Burchfield united in holy matrimony with his heart's true love, Miss Nettie James Myres, bequeathing to her his heart and his last name, and settling in Choctaw County as their homestead, before embarking upon the responsibility of making an earnest living for his wife and soon growing family of three sons, Mike, Phil and Tim, as a valued representative of the Farmers Home Administration for 35 years, until his retirement in 1981; and

WHEREAS, as residents and esteemed citizens and community pillars of Ackerman, Mississippi, Mr. J.D. and Mrs. Nettie experienced an ever-blossoming love of which romance novels are made, that spanned the course of 64 years, until God, in his infinite divine wisdom, requested her presence in the throne room and dispatched his chariot angels to escort her into the inner courts of Heaven on Sunday, August 4, 2013; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Burchfield, who has experienced the transformational changes of American society and various moments of iconic history, subsequently relocated from his Ackerman farm life to Clinton, and continues to rely wholeheartedly on God as the driving force to sustain and motivate him through the circumstances, trials and triumphs of life, which resonates with his profound faith and the unyielding support of his family, through an exemplary life of exuding the love of Christ; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Burchfield willingly assumes the patriarchal role of his family, seizing the reins as the unifying tie that binds his family together, as he seeks to always be their provider, and remains instrumental in their support and encouragement, as he sprinkles their lives with nuggets of infinite wisdom and a fervent agape love; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend and honor United States veterans for their courageous service and selfless devotion to the country, state, community and family, especially those veterans of Mr. Burchfield's caliber, whose light continues to be a beam of inspiration illuminating the path of hope for all he encounters along this earthly sojourn:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the life, military service, and legacy of community leadership and model citizenship of Mr. J.D. Burchfield and express grateful appreciation for the life of service and sacrifice he provided to this nation as a World War II veteran upon the most auspicious occasion of his 98th birthday, on January 31, 2020.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. J.D. Burchfield and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.