HR 338 — A Resolution honoring the life and legacy of United States Army Air Forces Warrant Officer William J. McMichael, expressing condolences to his family and commending with gratitude and respect the recovery and return of his remains.

PRINTER'S NO.   2425

                  THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



           HOUSE RESOLUTION
              No. 338
                                              Session of
                                                2025

     INTRODUCED BY MALONEY, SCHEUREN, COOK, D'ORSIE, GILLEN, JAMES,
        MAJOR, SMITH, KUZMA, O'NEAL, NEILSON, KAUFFMAN, PICKETT,
        SCHMITT, ROAE AND STAATS, OCTOBER 8, 2025

     TO UNCONTESTED CALENDAR UNDER RULE 35 OCTOBER 8, 2025


                               A RESOLUTION
 1   Honoring the life and legacy of United States Army Air Forces
 2      Warrant Officer William J. McMichael, expressing condolences
 3      to his family and commending with gratitude and respect the
 4      recovery and return of his remains.
 5      WHEREAS, William McMichael was born June 30, 1905, in
 6   Boyertown, Berks County; and
 7      WHEREAS, William McMichael enlisted in the United States Army
 8   Air Forces in 1922 at 17 years of age; and
 9      WHEREAS, William McMichael, having earned an honorable
10   discharge, reenlisted into active service with the United States
11   Army Air Forces in 1932; and
12      WHEREAS, In July 1941, William McMichael's unit was
13   transported to the Philippine Air Depot, Nichols Field military
14   base, in December 8, 1941, Japanese air raids began at Nichols
15   Field and other Pacific military bases; and
16      WHEREAS, On April 9, 1942, the United States Army Forces in
17   the Far East surrendered and on May 6, 1942, the remaining
18   United States and Filipino forces surrendered and were sent to
 1   Cabanatuan prison; and
 2         WHEREAS, William McMichael, who endured the Bataan Death
 3   March, became a prisoner of war at Cabanatuan prison; and
 4         WHEREAS, On January 9, 1945, William McMichael and 424 other
 5   American prisoners of war died as the Enoura Maru traveled from
 6   Formosa to Japan, attacked by United States carrier planes whose
 7   crews did not know the ship was transporting prisoners of war;
 8   and
 9         WHEREAS, The remains of William McMichael were contained in a
10   prisoner of war burial site at Formosa through May 1946, until
11   disinterment on October 30, 2017, for DNA testing confirmation,
12   and were finally identified at Offutt Lab, Nebraska on April 3,
13   2025; and
14         WHEREAS, On October 2, 2025, William McMichael's remains
15   arrived in Berks County with full military honors; and
16         WHEREAS, William McMichael earned numerous awards, including
17   the Bronze Star; and
18         WHEREAS, William McMichael was laid to rest in a military
19   funeral service at Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on
20   October 7, 2025; and
21         WHEREAS, The House of Representatives solemnly observes
22   William McMichael's courage, camaraderie and sacrifice and that
23   an estimated 72,000 World War II service members are missing in
24   action and 81,000 total service members are missing in action;
25   therefore be it
26         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the life
27   and legacy of United States Army Air Forces Warrant Officer
28   William J. McMichael, express condolences to his family and
29   commend with gratitude and respect the recovery and return of
30   his remains.

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