RADM Flatley sympathy

2025-2026 Bill 4871: RADM Flatley sympathy - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4871
STATUS INFORMATION
House Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Bustos, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Calhoon, Caskey, Chapman, Chumley, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Collins, Cox, Crawford, Cromer, Davis, Dillard, Duncan, Edgerton, Erickson, Ford, Forrest, Frank, Gagnon, Garvin, Gatch, Gibson, Gilliam, Gilliard, Gilreath, Govan, Grant, Guest, Guffey, Haddon, Hager, Hardee, Harris, Hart, Hartnett, Hartz, Hayes, Henderson-Myers, Herbkersman, Hewitt, Hiott, Hixon, Holman, Hosey, Howard, Huff, J.E. Johnson, J.L. Johnson, Jones, Jordan, Kilmartin, King, Kirby, Landing, Lastinger, Lawson, Ligon, Long, Lowe, Luck, Magnuson, Martin, McCabe, McCravy, McDaniel, McGinnis, C. Mitchell, D. Mitchell, Montgomery, J. Moore, T. Moore, Morgan, Moss, Neese, B. Newton, W. Newton, Oremus, Pace, Pedalino, Pope, Rankin, Reese, Rivers, Robbins, Rose, Rutherford, Sanders, Schuessler, Scott, Sessions, G.M. Smith, M.M. Smith, Spann-Wilder, Stavrinakis, Taylor, Teeple, Terribile, Vaughan, Waters, Weeks, Wetmore, White, Whitmire, Wickensimer, Williams, Willis, Wooten and Yow
Document Path: LC-0578WAB-GM26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 14, 2026
Adopted by the House on January 14, 2026
Summary: RADM Flatley sympathy
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/14/2026

House

Introduced and adopted (
House Journal-page 59
)

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legislative information
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VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/14/2026

A
house
RESOLUTION

TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF JAMES H. FLATLEY
III, RETIRED REAR ADMIRAL OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, AND TO EXTEND THEIR
DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS LARGE AND LOVING FAMILY AND HIS MANY FRIENDS.

W
hereas, the members of
the South Carolina House of Representatives were saddened to learn of the death
of retired Rear Admiral James H. Flatley III at the age of ninety-one on
December 12, 2025; and

W
hereas, born in San
Diego, California, on January 9, 1934, he was the oldest of four boys born to
James H. Flatley Jr. and Dorothy May McMurray, and he followed in his father's
distinguished footsteps as a World War II ace by becoming a distinguished naval
aviator himself; and

W
hereas, during his
thirty-one years of active military service, he logged 4,460 flight hours in
over thirty different aircraft and was the first aviator to complete 1,608
carrier landings. In 1963, he successfully executed multiple carrier landings
aboard the USS Forrestal (CV-59) while piloting the C-130 Hercules, the largest
aircraft ever to land on a carrier; and

W
hereas, Admiral
Flatley's decorations included the Distinguished Service Metal, Silver Star,
Legion of Merit with four Gold Stars, Distinguished Flying Cross with two Gold
Stars, Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V," Air Medal with Silver Star with the
numeral 24 to indicate over 350 combat missions, Navy Commendation Medal with
Combat "V," and Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Star. During his third
tour in the Vietnam War, he was commander of Fighter Squadron VF 31. More than
all the medals he received, he felt the greatest accomplishment of his career
was that he brought home every member of that squadron to their anxious and
loving families; and

W
hereas, together with
his beloved wife, Nancy Monica Christie, he reared six fine children: James IV,
Joseph, Mary Kiteley, Michael, Kathleen, and Kara Brophy. His children blessed
him with the affection of twenty-two loving grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren
with two more on the way currently. Adding to his pride in all of his
offspring, three of his six children followed his path into military service,
along with seven of his grandchildren; and

W
hereas, upon retiring
from the Navy, Mr. Flatley served as director of Government Programs at
Cambridge Research Corp and then as general manager and chairman of the board
of Intermarine USA. In 1994, he and his wife moved to Charleston where he
served the state as CEO of Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum,
transforming Patriot's Point into the state's largest tourist attraction; and

W
hereas, he served as
chairman of the Board for Roper St. Francis Healthcare and Mt. Pleasant and of
the board of the South Carolina Maritime Security Commission, charged with
reestablishing and overseeing the South Carolina Naval Militia. He served on the
board of directors for the USS Yorktown Foundation and the National Medal of
Honor Center for Leadership and was a member of the Golden Eagle Association,
the USO World Board of Governors, the United States Naval Institute, the Red
River Valley River Rats, the Association of Naval Aviation, the Surface Naval
Aviation, the Naval Submarine League, and the United States Naval Academy
Alumni Association and Foundation. For his significant contributions, he was
honored with the coveted Order of the Palmetto; and

W
hereas, during a life
devoted to his country, his community, and his family, Jim Flatley was a man of
strong faith and was deeply committed to his church, Saint Benedict Catholic
Church. His impact on naval aviation, the Charleston community, and the lives
of those whom he loved and with whom he served will be remembered for
generations. The members of the South Carolina House of Representatives are
grateful for the life and legacy of Jim Flatley and for the example of courage,
sacrifice, and commitment to service he set for all who knew him. Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the
House of Representatives
:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina
House of Representatives
,
by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of James H.
Flatley III, retired Rear Admiral of the United States Navy, and extend their
deepest sympathy to his large and loving family and his many friends.

B
e it further resolved
that a copy of this resolution be presented to the family of James H. Flatley
III.

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This web page was last updated on January 14, 2026 at 3:40 PM