BODY
Whereas, Lieutenant Thomas J. Cullison, of Birtley Avenue in Brookline, honorably served the United States Army as an officer in Rifle Company E, 2nd Battalion, 11th Infantry Regiment, 5th Infantry Division of General George Patton's Third Army during the Lorraine Campaign of World War II; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Cullison landed on Utah Beach on July 9, 1944 as part of the Red Diamond Division, and seized strategically significant territory across France, spearheading General Patton's advance; and
Whereas, August 7th-10th, 1944, Lt. Cullison and the Red Diamond Division liberated the city of Angers, for which Lieutenant Thomas Cullison received the Bronze Star for foiling German plans of attack and pushing the German line back to reclaim positions in France; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Cullison and the Red Diamonds went on to liberate Chartres, Fontainebleau, Reims, and Verdun; and on September 1944, the Red Diamond Division advanced across the Moselle River under heavy enemy fire to Dornot to secure another fort; and
Whereas, Platoon Leader Cullison and the Red Diamond Division were attacked by German forces, and wounded soldiers observed radio silence until the Division was ordered to retreat; and
Whereas, a wounded Lieutenant Cullison gave his seat in the boat to another soldier, and chose instead to swim across the Moselle River, a 150-yard journey in strong currents, under constant enemy fire, yet Lieutenant Cullison sadly never reached the safety of the opposite shore; and
Whereas, Lieutenant Cullison was posthumously awarded the Silver Star medial for gallantry in action against the enemy, as the platoon leader that successfully fought 36 attacks on his division's position and also awarded the Purple Heart; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and honor Lieutenant Thomas Cullison for his bravery and sacrifice for our freedom; and
TITLE
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council o...
Click here for full text