Wereth 11

2025-2026 Bill 4959: Wereth 11 - South Carolina Legislature Online

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026
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H. 4959
STATUS INFORMATION
Concurrent Resolution
Sponsors: Reps. Sanders, Alexander, Anderson, Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein, Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, 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, 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-0383VR-JAH26.docx
Introduced in the House on January 15, 2026
Introduced in the Senate on January 20, 2026
Adopted by the General Assembly on February 18, 2026
Summary: Wereth 11
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS

Date

Body

Action Description with journal page number

1/15/2026

House

Introduced, adopted, sent to Senate (
House Journal-page 22
)

1/20/2026

Senate

Introduced (
Senate Journal-page 12
)

1/20/2026

Senate

Referred to Committee on
Family and Veterans' Services
(
Senate Journal-page 12
)

2/12/2026

Senate

Recalled from Committee on
Family and Veterans' Services
(
Senate Journal-page 2
)

2/18/2026

Senate

Adopted, returned to House with concurrence (
Senate Journal-page 37
)

View the latest
legislative information
at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS BILL
01/15/2026
02/12/2026

Recalled

February 12, 2026

H. 4959

Introduced by Reps. Sanders, Alexander, Anderson,
Atkinson, Bailey, Ballentine, Bamberg, Bannister, Bauer, Beach, Bernstein,
Bowers, Bradley, Brewer, Brittain, Burns, Bustos, 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, 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

S. Printed 2/12/26--S.

Read the first time January 20, 2026

________

A concurrent RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND
HONOR THE HEROISM AND SACRIFICE OF PRIVATE CURTIS ADAMS AND THE "WERETH 11,"
AND TO DESIGNATE DECEMBER 17 OF EACH YEAR AS "WERETH 11 REMEMBRANCE DAY" IN
SOUTH CAROLINA.

W
hereas, during World
War II, eleven Black soldiers of the 333
rd
Field Artillery Battalion,
known today as the "Wereth 11," were captured, tortured, and executed near
Wereth, Belgium, on December 17, 1944, after demonstrating extraordinary
bravery and unwavering loyalty in the defense of freedom; and

W
hereas, among these
heroic men was Private Curtis Adams, a medic with the all-Black 333
rd

Field Artillery Battalion, a resident of Anderson, and a citizen of the State
of South Carolina; and

W
hereas, Private Adams served
with distinction as a medic in the 333
rd
Field Artillery Battalion,
which endured unimaginable brutality after being captured by German SS troops during
the early days of the Battle of the Bulge, and he, along with ten fellow
soldiers, was tortured and killed near the village of Wereth, Belgium, leaving a
legacy of courage, service, and honor that continues to inspire future
generations; and

W
hereas, through the
dedicated efforts and research of Honor for Heroes, American Legion Post 14,
Mr. Kip Price of West Virginia, and the late Mr. Joe Small, the long-hidden
story of the Wereth 11 was brought to light, ensuring that their sacrifice and valor
are properly remembered and honored; and

W
hereas, the South
Carolina General Assembly recognizes the extraordinary courage, selflessness,
and ultimate sacrifice of Private Curtis Adams and his fellow soldiers and
seeks to preserve their story as a permanent part of the State's shared history.
Now, therefore,

B
e it resolved by the House
of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

T
hat the members of the
South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize and honor the
heroism and sacrifice of Private Curtis Adams and the "Wereth 11," and
designate December 17 of each year as "Wereth 11 Remembrance Day" in South
Carolina.

This web page was last updated on February 12, 2026 at 2:35 PM