By De La Garza H.C.R. No. 82 74R5438 PAN-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The launching of the U.S.S. Gonzalez provides a 1-2 fitting occasion to honor and pay tribute to a true American hero, 1-3 Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, U.S.M.C., for whom this magnificent ship 1-4 has been named; and 1-5 WHEREAS, A native of Edinburg, Texas, Sergeant Gonzalez was 1-6 graduated from Edinburg High School and, blessed with an abiding 1-7 love for his country, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve 1-8 at San Antonio immediately after graduation and was discharged one 1-9 month later to enlist in the regular Marine Corps on July 6, 1965; 1-10 and 1-11 WHEREAS, Completing recruit training and individual combat 1-12 training, he became a rifleman with Headquarters and Service 1-13 Company, 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, and 1-14 served in that capacity until 1966; he then saw a one-year tour of 1-15 duty as a rifleman and squad leader in the Republic of Vietnam, 1-16 during which time he earned promotions to the rank of private first 1-17 class, lance corporal, and corporal for his outstanding devotion to 1-18 duty; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Following his return to the United States in 1967, 1-20 he saw duty as a rifleman with the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd 1-21 Marine Division in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and while 1-22 stationed there, volunteered for a second tour of duty in Vietnam; 1-23 and 1-24 WHEREAS, On July 1, 1967, this brave soldier was promoted to 2-1 the rank of sergeant and within the month was sent to Vietnam, 2-2 where he distinguished himself through his exceptional service as a 2-3 squad leader and platoon sergeant with the 3rd Platoon Company "A," 2-4 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division; and 2-5 WHEREAS, On February 4, 1968, Sergeant Gonzalez was mortally 2-6 wounded while participating in the initial phase of Operation HUE 2-7 CITY in the vicinity of Thua Thien, Vietnam; Sergeant Gonzalez 2-8 successfully knocked out a rocket position and saved the lives of 2-9 dozens of Americans before being hit by hostile rocket fire, and he 2-10 was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1969 2-11 for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life 2-12 above and beyond the call of duty; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Of the thousands of men who fought and died in the 2-14 Tet Offensive, Sergeant Gonzalez was the only man to receive the 2-15 Medal of Honor for his courageous actions in the Battle of Hue City 2-16 and, with the launching of the U.S.S. Gonzalez, he becomes the 2-17 first Texan of Hispanic descent to have a naval missile destroyer 2-18 named in his honor; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Though he was exempt from war front duty as the sole 2-20 surviving son of his family, Sergeant Gonzalez chose instead to 2-21 serve his country and, with tremendous heroism, courage, and 2-22 leadership, he reflected great credit upon himself and the Marine 2-23 Corps, in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States 2-24 Naval Service; and 2-25 WHEREAS, Foremost in the thoughts of all who witness the 2-26 launching of the U.S.S. Gonzalez will be this remarkable young man 2-27 from Edinburg, who gallantly gave his own life to ensure that this 3-1 nation will continue to stand as a beacon of hope to people the 3-2 world over; now, therefore, be it 3-3 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-4 hereby commemorate the launching of the U.S.S. Gonzalez and pay 3-5 tribute to the life of Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, U.S.M.C., a 3-6 native son and true American hero; and, be it further 3-7 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-8 prepared for his mother, Mrs. Dolia Gonzalez, and that when the 3-9 Texas House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do 3-10 so in memory of Sergeant Alfredo Gonzalez, U.S.M.C.