House Resolution No. ___ commends James "Jim" Bollich, a decorated veteran and centenarian, for his distinguished military service in the United States Army Air Corps, particularly in light of the Louisiana America 250 celebration. Born on August 15, 1921, in Eunice, Louisiana, Bollich enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1940 and was stationed in the Philippines shortly before the attack on Pearl Harbor. He fought bravely in the Battle of Bataan in 1942 and subsequently endured the harrowing Bataan Death March, a brutal 65-mile forced march that resulted in significant loss of life among American and Filipino soldiers. After being held as a prisoner of war in Manchuria for nearly four and a half years, he was liberated on his 24th birthday.

At 104 years old, Bollich is recognized as one of the last surviving veterans of the Bataan Death March and has received numerous honors, including the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, and the Congressional Gold Medal. He is also a Fulbright Scholar and the author of twelve books, including a personal account of the Bataan Death March. The resolution expresses deep appreciation for Bollich's extraordinary perseverance and dedication to defending American freedoms, highlighting his status as a true American hero deserving of recognition.