[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 809 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 809

    Designating September 30, 2022, as ``Mississippi National Guard 
                           Recognition Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2022

 Mr. Wicker (for himself and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating September 30, 2022, as ``Mississippi National Guard 
                           Recognition Day''.

Whereas, since its inception in 1798, the Mississippi National Guard has served 
        the Magnolia State and the United States;
Whereas the Mississippi National Guard has responded to national and State 
        emergencies;
Whereas, on September 30, 1962, anticipating violence as a result of the 
        admission of James Meredith, the first Black student in the history of 
        the University of Mississippi, President John F. Kennedy and Secretary 
        of Defense Robert S. McNamara activated the entire Mississippi National 
        Guard to provide riot control during the desegregation of the University 
        of Mississippi;
Whereas Major General William P. Wilson immediately ordered 14,400 officers and 
        enlisted men of the Mississippi National Guard to report to their 
        armories and await orders from their Commander, Brigadier General 
        Charles Billingslea;
Whereas 2 battle groups and 1 armored cavalry regiment, comprised of 3,086 men, 
        reported to Oxford, Mississippi, on September 30, 1962, under the 
        command of General Billingslea;
Whereas the 1st Battle Group, 155th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Laurel, 
        Mississippi, and commanded by Colonel Marion D. Odell, was comprised of 
        Guardsmen from Brookhaven, Tylertown, Natchez, Meadville, McComb, 
        Magnolia, and Gloster, Mississippi;
Whereas the 2d Battle Group, 155th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Amory, 
        Mississippi, and commanded by Colonel Robert L. Gray, was comprised of 
        Guardsmen from Corinth, Kosciusko, Louisville, Iuka, Aberdeen, and 
        Starkville, Mississippi;
Whereas the 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Tupelo, 
        Mississippi, and commanded by Colonel James G. Martin, was comprised of 
        Guardsmen from Belmont, Booneville, Fulton, Okolona, Baldwyn, Nettleton, 
        Ripley, Oxford, New Albany, Pontotoc, Holly Springs, Water Valley, 
        Senatobia, Marks, Sardis, Batesville, Hernando, and Tunica, Mississippi;
Whereas, on the night of September 30, 1962, a violent mob, including some 
        individuals from out of State, formed on the campus of the University of 
        Mississippi, forcing reporters and United States Marshals to shelter 
        inside the Lyceum building on the campus of the University of 
        Mississippi;
Whereas that same mob attacked General Billingslea, his deputy, General John 
        Corley, and his aide, Captain Harold Lyon, while they were in their car, 
        setting it ablaze and forcing the 3 men to escape by crawling 200 yards 
        to the Lyceum building, all while under gunfire;
Whereas, at 10 o'clock in the evening of September 30, 1962, Troop G of 
        Pontotoc, Mississippi, and Howitzer Battery 2nd Reconnaissance Squadron 
        of Water Valley, Mississippi, 108th Armored Cavalry, were ordered to 
        move immediately to the campus of the University of Mississippi to quell 
        the rioters surrounding the Lyceum building;
Whereas, at approximately 3 o'clock in the morning of October 1, 1962, the 1st 
        and 3rd Reconnaissance Squadrons, 108th Armored Cavalry, were ordered to 
        the Lyceum building to clear the campus of rioters;
Whereas, by the morning of October 1, 1962, the rioters on the campus of the 
        University of Mississippi had been subdued, but not before resulting in 
        the death of Ray Gunter and Paul Guihard;
Whereas, because of the courage displayed by the members of the 155th Infantry 
        Regiment and the 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Mississippi 
        National Guard, active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and law 
        enforcement officers on that autumn day in Oxford, order was restored at 
        the University of Mississippi;
Whereas, 60 years later, the Mississippi National Guard continues to provide 
        protection of life and property, and upholds the preservation of peace, 
        order, and public safety, for the citizens of Mississippi; and
Whereas thousands of students of all races, creeds, backgrounds, and beliefs 
        today receive world-class education at the University of Mississippi 
        because of the courage, discipline, and professionalism of the members 
        of the 155th Infantry Regiment and the 108th Armored Cavalry Regiment of 
        the Mississippi National Guard: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates September 30, 2022, as ``Mississippi 
        National Guard Recognition Day''; and
            (2) recognizes the heroic efforts of the Mississippi 
        National Guard 60 years ago to maintain peace in Oxford, 
        Mississippi, during the largest deployment of troops to a 
        single disturbance in the history of the Mississippi National 
        Guard.
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