HR 1992: Hearn, Major General George J., Jr.; honoring life, military service, and civic contributions; condolences

House Resolution 1992

By: Representatives Williamson of the 112th, Bonner of the 73rd, Cannon of the 172nd, DeLoach of the 167th, Lumsden of the 12th, and others

A RESOLUTION

Honoring the life, military service, and civic contributions of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr. of Monroe, Georgia; and for other purposes.

WHEREAS, Major General George J. Hearn, Jr., of Monroe, rendered distinguished and honorable service to the State of Georgia and the United States through more than four decades of military leadership, public service, and civic devotion; and

WHEREAS, General Hearn began his military career in 1925 as a private in the Georgia National Guard's Howitzer Company, 121st Infantry Regiment, in Monroe, rose through the enlisted ranks, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1932, ultimately attaining the rank of Major General, the highest rank a Guardsman can achieve; and

WHEREAS, during World War II, General Hearn was called to active federal service in the United States Army, where he served with distinction as an antiaircraft artillery battery, battalion, and group commander, including command of an antiaircraft artillery group responsible for the air defense of the Panama Canal Zone, and he was honorably discharged on March 9, 1946, in the grade of Colonel; and

WHEREAS, during the Korean War, General Hearn was again called to active duty, serving as executive officer of the 108th Antiaircraft Artillery Brigade, contributing to the air defense of metropolitan areas in New Jersey and Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, following his return to state service, he was elevated to brigade commander in 1952 and promoted to brigadier general, and he was federally recognized as a major general in 1961; and

WHEREAS, General Hearn was initially appointed Adjutant General of Georgia by Governor Herman Talmadge on June 21, 1954, was reappointed by Governor Marvin Griffin, and later reappointed by Governor Ernest Vandiver, and across his distinguished tenure he served under five Governors of Georgia-Herman Talmadge, Marvin Griffin, Ernest Vandiver, Carl Sanders, and Lester Maddox-providing approximately fifteen years of leadership as Adjutant General and State Director of Civil Defense; and

WHEREAS, General Hearn holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Adjutant General in the history of the State of Georgia, and his tenure was marked by exceptional leadership, continuity of command, and transformational growth of the Georgia National Guard; and

WHEREAS, as Adjutant General and the senior military officer of the State of Georgia, General Hearn played a central leadership role in the 1961 reactivation of the Georgia Military Institute, working in conjunction with Governor Ernest Vandiver to reestablish the state's officer training pipeline during a period of heightened national security demands; and

WHEREAS, under his leadership, the revived Georgia Military Institute began training its first class in 1961, commissioning new officers beginning in 1962 and continuing a legacy that has produced more than 1,200 second lieutenants who have served in conflicts from Vietnam through Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia Military Institute program, now assigned to the 122nd Regional Training Institute, continues to uphold rigorous academic and physical standards consistent with its historic reputation as the "West Point of the South," reflecting General Hearn's enduring impact on officer development in the Georgia National Guard; and

WHEREAS, during his tenure, General Hearn strengthened the readiness, professionalism, and infrastructure of the Georgia National Guard, including the expansion and modernization of armories across the state; and

WHEREAS, on November 10, 1968, the National Guard Armory in Monroe was formally dedicated in his honor as the Major General George J. Hearn Armory, and Governor Lester Maddox, in his principal address, commended General Hearn's "spirit" and his constant dedication to the protection of the freedoms enjoyed by the people of this state, noting that such character "earns him the gratitude of the people of Georgia"; and

WHEREAS, the Georgia National Guard is currently relocating the Monroe Armory and constructing a new approximately 36,000-square-foot readiness center on approximately 27 acres located at 1245 South Madison Avenue in Monroe, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly finds that the naming of public military facilities is a well-established and appropriate exercise of state recognition authority, intended to honor individuals whose service has materially advanced the mission, readiness, and institutional legacy of the Georgia National Guard; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly further finds that Major General George J. Hearn, Jr.'s extraordinary record of wartime service, his historic and longest-serving tenure as Adjutant General, his leadership in reestablishing the Georgia Military Institute officer training program, and his lasting contributions to military infrastructure and readiness uniquely qualify him for such recognition; and

WHEREAS, the General Assembly determines that the continued naming of the Monroe armory facility in his honor will preserve the historical continuity of prior legislative and executive recognition, reinforce the heritage of the Georgia National Guard, and inspire future generations of Georgia Guardsmen; and

WHEREAS, General Hearn's distinguished career brought him national recognition, including the award of the Distinguished Service Medal of the National Guard Association of the United States in 1968 for his outstanding service and contributions to national guard policy; and

WHEREAS, in addition to his military service, General Hearn rendered notable civic and public service as a former Mayor of Monroe, a member of the Monroe City Council, a member of the Walton County Hospital Board, a past Georgia Department Commander of the American Legion, and a long-time Elder and Sunday school teacher at Monroe First Christian Church; and

WHEREAS, General Hearn's life and career reflected the highest ideals of patriotism, leadership, and selfless service to community, state, and nation; and

WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the extraordinary accomplishments of this distinguished Georgian be appropriately recognized by this body.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body honor the life and legacy of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr. and commend his extraordinary military service in World War II and the Korean War, his historic leadership as Adjutant General of Georgia, his pivotal role in the reestablishment of the Georgia Military Institute, and his devoted civic service to Monroe, Walton County, and the State of Georgia.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, based upon the foregoing findings and in recognition of his enduring contributions to the Georgia National Guard, the members of this body respectfully urge and recommend that the appropriate authorities designate and name the new Monroe readiness center located at 1245 South Madison Avenue in Monroe, Georgia, in honor of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the family of Major General George J. Hearn, Jr., to the Adjutant General of Georgia, and to the citizens of Walton County.