Senate Resolution No. 1184

BY: Senator GRIFFO

COMMEMORATING the life and service of World War II
Veteran Private Harland J. Hennessey

WHEREAS, Members of the Armed Services from the State of New York,
who have served so valiantly and honorably in wars in which this
country's freedom was at stake, as well as in the preservation of peace
in peacetime, deserve a special salute from this Legislative Body; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
life and service of World War II Veteran Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey
posthumously upon the occasion of the identification and return of his
remains to the United States; and

WHEREAS, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency in Washington, D.C.
recently announced that the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. Harland J.
Hennessey were identified on September 23, 2024; and

WHEREAS, Harland J. Hennessey, born on September 1, 1918, enlisted
in the United States Army during World War II, and was a member of the
803rd Engineer Battalion, Aviation stationed in the Philippines, when
Japanese forces invaded the Philippine Islands in December of 1942; and

WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey was captured by enemy forces and
held as a prisoner of war when U.S. forces in Bataan surrendered to the
Japanese; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of U.S. and Filipino service members were
captured and interned at prisoner of war (POW) camps; Pvt. Harland J.
Hennessey and other POWs were forced into the 65-mile Bataan Death March
and then held at the Cabanatuan POW Camp No. 1; and

WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey died on November 1, 1942, at the
early age of 24, and was one of more than 2,500 POWs who perished in the
camp; and

WHEREAS, The cause of the brave veteran's death was Beriberi-a
disease brought on by an insufficient diet and the exertion of walking
in the death march; Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey was buried in a common
grave in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency exhumed the gravesite
there in 2018 and Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey's remains were finally
identified with the help of a DNA sample provided by his nephew, John
Hennessey of Boonville, New Yor; and

WHEREAS, Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey's name is memorialized on the
Cabanatuan Memorial in the Philippines that was erected by survivors of
the Bataan Death March and the prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan; he is
also listed on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery
in the Philippines; and

WHEREAS, Other descendants of Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey still in the
Boonville area include his niece, Patricia Hennessey-John Hennessey's

sister; and John's wife, Sue, with whom he has three children and 11
grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, Upon the return of his remains home, Pvt. Harland J.
Hennessey will be buried with his parents, Howard and Dorothy Hennessey,
in the Boonville Cemetery; and

WHEREAS, The VFW Post which was named in this distinguished
veteran's honor also intends to host a celebration in honor of this
momentous occasion which will bring closure to the veteran's family and
friends; and

WHEREAS, Residents of this great State must never forget the courage
with which these men and women served their country, and must recognize
that no greater debt is owed than that owed to those who gave their
lives for their beloved Nation and to those who continue to be missing
in action; and

WHEREAS, Having exhibited his patriotism both at home and abroad,
Pvt. Harland J. Hennessey demonstrated his love for his country and
merits forevermore the highest respect of his State and Nation; and

WHEREAS, Our Nation's veterans deserve to be recognized, commended,
and thanked by the people of the State of New York for their service and
for their dedication to their communities, their State and their Nation;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the life and service of World War II Veteran Private Harland
J. Hennessey; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Private Harland J. Hennessey.