GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1995 SESSION
RATIFIED BILL

RESOLUTION 9
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 981

A JOINT RESOLUTION HONORING THE MEMORY OF UNDERAGE MILITARY VETERANS WHO DIED SERVING THEIR COUNTRY AND COMMENDING THE VETERANS OF UNDERAGE MILITARY SERVICE, INC.

Whereas, throughout history, nations have called upon their youth to fight their wars, and it is inevitable that some young men and women under the age of 17, usually driven by strong patriotism, have enlisted in the armed forces; and
Whereas, in some instances, these youths were discovered and separated from service, sometimes after they had already seen action and performed heroically; and
Whereas, the Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc., was formed in 1990, to help these individuals who were frequently discharged from the service and stripped of their awards and their military benefits; and
Whereas, the primary goals of the organization are to contact all veterans who served in any branch of the United States Armed Forces when they were under 17 years of age and to advise and assist them in obtaining a proper discharge and their veterans' benefits; and
Whereas, a secondary goal is to establish a historical record of underage veterans by publishing their names, their deeds, and their stories; and
Whereas, currently the organization consists of over 800 veterans who served in the armed forces before they were 17 years of age; and
Whereas, two Medal of Honor winners who enlisted before they were 17 years of age have been identified; and
Whereas, the youngest combat veteran to be identified since World War I enlisted at the age of 12 and served during World War II; and
Whereas, the motto of the Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc., is "So Young to Grow up So Fast"; and
Whereas, many of these young courageous veterans gave their lives defending this country;

Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

Section 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of those underage military veterans who gave their lives to protect and defend the United States.  The General Assembly further commends the Veterans of Underage Military Service, Inc., for its attempt to locate and assist all underage veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Sec. 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to Jack Hoffler, Commander of the North Carolina Chapter of the Veterans of Underage Military Services, Inc.
Sec. 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 8th day of June, 1995.

	────────────────── 
	Dennis A. Wicker
	President of the Senate

	────────────────── 
	Harold J. Brubaker
	Speaker of the House of Representatives