| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, In June 1944, the members of the 101st Airborne |
|
|
Division demonstrated exceptional courage when their actions |
|
|
helped clear the way for the arrival of Allied forces on Normandy |
|
|
beaches during World War II; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, On June 5, more than 6,500 paratroopers of the 101st |
|
|
division spearheaded the start of the U.S. airborne assault on the |
|
|
Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, France; specifically, they carried |
|
|
out the mission of securing four causeways leading inland and |
|
|
neutralizing enemy resistance in advance of the amphibious landings |
|
|
by the U.S. Army 4th Infantry Division the next morning; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Before dawn on June 6, the 502nd Parachute Infantry |
|
|
Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division attacked and captured a |
|
|
German garrison headquarters site at Marmion Farm, on the outskirts |
|
|
of the Ravenoville village; under the direction of Major |
|
|
John P. Stopka, the regiment took control of the site, denying |
|
|
enemy movement against the northern shoulder of the 101st assault |
|
|
area and the critical exits at Utah Beach; the paratroopers held |
|
|
their posts until the early morning of June 7, when they were |
|
|
relieved by lead elements of the 4th Infantry Division; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, On June 6, 2012, the Eternal Heroes Memorial was |
|
|
dedicated in Ravenoville in honor of the "Raveno Boys," whose |
|
|
heroic stand contributed to the success of the Allied landings on |
|
|
Utah Beach and ultimately the D-Day invasion of Normandy; counted |
|
|
among the Raveno Boys were nine Texans: Ollie E. Barrington Jr. and |
|
|
George W. Blackburn of Harris County, Justo Correa of Dimmit |
|
|
County, Homer R. Estes of Stephens County, Leon Jackson of Hidalgo |
|
|
County, and James R. Kumler, Joel R. Lander, Worster M. Morgan, and |
|
|
Luther M. Tillery of Dallas County; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Raveno Boys displayed extraordinary bravery in |
|
|
the line of duty, and Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to |
|
|
these paratroopers and to all members of the U.S. armed forces who |
|
|
so valiantly served during World War II; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature, 4th |
|
|
Called Session, hereby recognize June 6 and 7, 2024, as Eternal |
|
|
Heroes Memorial Days in honor of the Texas Raveno Boys. |