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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | August 5, 2014 03:56 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan L. Miller and Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Condolence Resolution for Theodore “Dutch” VanKirk |
| In the near future, we will be introducing a resolution honoring the life and expressing condolences upon the passing of Theodore “Dutch” VanKirk, the last surviving crew member of the Enola Gay that dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, helping to end World War II. Theodore “Dutch” VanKirk was born on February 27, 1921 in Northumberland, PA and grew up on a farm. He enlisted in the Army in October of 1941 and was trained as a navigator. He flew 58 combat missions during World War II before being recruited to participate in the top secret and extremely dangerous mission to drop the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on August 6, 1945. This was the first ever use of an atomic weapon in military combat. A second atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, Japan on August 9, 1945 and Japan surrendered on August 15, 1945, bringing an end to World War II. Dutch VanKirk was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his participation in the mission. Following the end of the war and his service in the military he attended Bucknell University and studied Chemical Engineering. Following graduation, Dutch VanKirk spent 35 years working for the DuPont Company in various locations throughout the United States before his retirement in 1985. Theodore “Dutch” VanKirk passed away on Monday, July 28 at the retirement home where he lived in Stone Mountain, Georgia at the age of 93. He is survived by sons Tom of Mt. Lebanon, PA; Larry of Charlotte, NC; daughters Vicki Triplett of Atlanta, GA; and Joanne Gotelli of Sacramento, CA; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Dutch VanKirk was a quiet hero who deserves thanks as a native son of a grateful Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Please join us in co-sponsoring this condolence resolution honoring the life and service to commonwealth and country of Theodore “Dutch” VanKirk. If you have any questions about this resolution please contact Rep. Miller’s office at 717-783-1850 or Rep. Culver’s office at 717-787-3485. |
Introduced as HR965