Georgia HR 1597: Major Henry Talmage Elrod Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Bridge; Thomas County; dedicate

Bill Text

20 LC 39 2667
H. R. 1597
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House Resolution 1597
By: Representative Taylor of the 173
rd
A RESOLUTION
Honoring the life of Major Henry Talmage Elrod and dedicating a bridge in his memory; and1
for other purposes.2
WHEREAS, Major Henry Talmage Elrod was born in Turner County, Georgia, on3
September 27, 1905; and4
WHEREAS, he graduated from Thomasville High School, where he was a standout player5
for the school's baseball and football teams, and went on to earn a position on the University6
of Georgia football team; and7
WHEREAS, Major Elrod enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1927, was appointed8
to the rank of second lieutenant in 1931, and earned his wings as a naval aviator; and9
WHEREAS, he earned the nickname "Hammerin' Hank," after he singlehandedly attacked 2210
Japanese bomber planes and shot down two on December 12, 1941, just days after the attack11
on Pearl Harbor; and12
WHEREAS, Major Elrod was the first American to sink a Japanese warship from a fighter13
aircraft when he dropped bombs on the destroyer, Kisaragi; and14
WHEREAS, he lost his life during a battle on Wake Island shortly after crash landing there15
and organizing a beach defense unit to push back the Japanese invasion; and16
WHEREAS, Major Elrod was posthumously awarded a Medal of Honor, and a ship, the USS17
Elrod, has been commissioned in his honor; and18
WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that this remarkable and distinguished19
Georgian be recognized appropriately by dedicating a bridge in his memory.20

20 LC 39 2667
H. R. 1597
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AND ENACTED BY THE GENERAL21
ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA that the bridge on SR 38/US 84 over SR 3/SR 300/US 19 in22
Thomas County is dedicated as the Major Henry Talmage Elrod Medal of Honor Recipient23
Memorial Bridge.24
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Transportation is authorized and25
directed to erect and maintain appropriate signs dedicating the Major Henry Talmage Elrod26
Medal of Honor Recipient Memorial Bridge.27
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized28
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the29
family of Major Henry Talmage Elrod and to the Department of Transportation.30