South Carolina H 4959: Memory of Sarah Deas Gibson and the Honorable George Roosevelt Gibson

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 4959 Text of Previous Version (Feb. 12, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 4959

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

Recalled

February 12, 2026

H. 4959

Introduced by Reps. Sanders, Alexander, Anderson, 
Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, 
Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, 
Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, 
Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, 
Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, 
Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, 
Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J. E. Johnson, 
J. L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, 
Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, 
McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, 
Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, 
Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G. M. Smith, M. 
M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, 
Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow 

S. Printed 2/12/26--S.

Read the first time January 20, 2026

________

A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND 
HONOR THE HEROISM AND SACRIFICE OF PRIVATE CURTIS ADAMS AND THE "WERETH 11," 
AND TO DESIGNATE DECEMBER 17 OF EACH YEAR AS "WERETH 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN 
SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, during World 
War II, eleven Black soldiers of the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, 
known today as the "Wereth 11," were captured, tortured, and executed near 
Wereth, Belgium, on December 17, 1944, after demonstrating extraordinary 
bravery and unwavering loyalty in the defense of freedom; and

Whereas, among these 
heroic men was Private Curtis Adams, a medic with the all-Black 333rd 
Field Artillery Battalion, a resident of Anderson, and a citizen of the State 
of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Private Adams served 
with distinction as a medic in the 333rd Field Artillery Battalion, 
which endured unimaginable brutality after being captured by German SS troops during 
the early days of the Battle of the Bulge, and he, along with ten fellow 
soldiers, was tortured and killed near the village of Wereth, Belgium, leaving a 
legacy of courage, service, and honor that continues to inspire future 
generations; and

Whereas, through the 
dedicated efforts and research of Honor for Heroes, American Legion Post 14, 
Mr. Kip Price of West Virginia, and the late Mr. Joe Small, the long-hidden 
story of the Wereth 11 was brought to light, ensuring that their sacrifice and valor 
are properly remembered and honored; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina General Assembly recognizes the extraordinary courage, selflessness, 
and ultimate sacrifice of Private Curtis Adams and his fellow soldiers and 
seeks to preserve their story as a permanent part of the State's shared history. 
Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House 
of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the 
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the 
heroism and sacrifice of Private Curtis Adams and the "Wereth 11," and 
designate December 17 of each year as "Wereth 11 Remembrance Day" in South 
Carolina.

This web page was last updated on February 12, 2026 at 02:35 PM