[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 116--COMMEMORATING THE LIFE, ACHIEVEMENTS, AND 
                  CONTRIBUTIONS OF FREDERICK C. BRANCH

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

                              S. Res. 116

       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.

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