On Tuesday, the Illinois House of Representatives unanimously passed House Joint Resolution 4, cosponsored by Rep. Coffey. The resolution seeks to designate the IL Route 54 Bridge crossing the Sangamon River near Riverton as the “PFC Daniel Lee Kick Memorial Bridge” in honor of Kick’s service and sacrifice while serving his country and his fellow Marines in South Vietnam.
Daniel Lee Kick was born in 1948 and raised in Riverton. After high school, Kick enlisted in the Marines and was deployed to South Vietnam with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marines. During the intense fighting of the Tet Offensive in 1968, Kick risked his life performing medevac and resupply missions while being subjected to enemy fire. Kick’s actions undoubtedly saved many of his fellow Marines.
During a medevac run on the evening of February 16, 1968, Kick’s vehicle was ambushed and he suffered mortal wounds. For his heroism, Kick was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star, as well as the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm from the South Vietnam Government, among other commendations.
Upon passage by the Senate, the Illinois Department of Transportation will be directed to erect signs to properly designate the IL Route 54 Bridge in Kick’s memory.
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