[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 116 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 116

Commemorating the life, achievements, and contributions of Frederick C. 
                                Branch.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 20, 2005

   Mrs. Dole (for herself, Mr. Burr, Mr. Corzine, and Mr. Santorum) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                            on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the life, achievements, and contributions of Frederick C. 
                                Branch.

Whereas Frederick C. Branch was born on May 31, 1922, in Hamlet, North Carolina, 
        studied at Johnson C. Smith University, and graduated from Temple 
        University with a degree in Physics;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch was drafted in May of 1943, and was one of 20,000 
        African American Marines to serve in World War II;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch was one of the original Montford Point Marines, 
        having received training alongside other African American Marines during 
        World War II at the Marine Barracks in New Point, North Carolina, which 
        was separated by 5 miles from the training grounds for all other Marines 
        at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch, after having served in the South Pacific during 
        World War II, was offered the opportunity to receive officer training;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch excelled by making the dean's list as an officer 
        trainee, and was the sole African American candidate in a class of 250 
        future officers;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch became the first African American to be commissioned 
        as an officer of the United States Marine Corps, having earned the rank 
        of second lieutenant on November 10, 1945;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch proudly served our nation during the Korean War, and 
        left the service after having risen to the rank of Captain;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch established a science department at Dobbins High 
        School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he taught until his 
        retirement in 1988;
Whereas in 1997 the United States Marine Corps recognized Frederick C. Branch's 
        contributions to integration, and named a training facility in his honor 
        at Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in Quantico, Virginia;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch was widowed upon the death of his wife and partner 
        of 55 years, Camilla ``Peggy'' Robinson, and is survived by 2 brothers, 
        William and Floyd, and a godson, Joseph Alex Cooper;
Whereas Frederick C. Branch passed away on April 10, 2005, having paved the way 
        for the 1,700 African American Marine Officers serving our Nation today; 
        and
Whereas Frederick C. Branch was buried with full military honors at Marine Corps 
        Base Quantico on April 20, 2005; Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) honors the life, achievements, and contributions of 
        Frederick C. Branch; and
            (2) extends its deepest sympathies to the family of 
        Frederick C. Branch for the loss of a great, courageous, and 
        pioneering man.
                                 <all>