III 109th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 116 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

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.