By Cuellar of Hidalgo H.C.R. No. 164 74R10411 NBM-F HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, February 19, 1995, will mark the 50th anniversary of 1-2 the invasion of Iwo Jima, an event that sparked one of the fiercest 1-3 battles in modern history, and on this occasion it is appropriate 1-4 to pay tribute to Marine Corporal Harlon Block, a courageous South 1-5 Texas youth who died fighting for his country in that historic 1-6 battle of World War II; and 1-7 WHEREAS, In 1943, Harlon Block became one of a group of eight 1-8 Weslaco High School friends who enlisted together in the United 1-9 States Marine Corps; by February 1945, Corporal Block was in the 1-10 thick of the bitter fight for the Japanese-held Pacific island of 1-11 Iwo Jima, a battle that proved to be a crucial turning point in the 1-12 Allied war effort against Japan; and 1-13 WHEREAS, On February 22, 1945, the fourth day of the battle, 1-14 U.S. Marines engaged the enemy at the base of Mount Suribachi, the 1-15 tallest peak on the island and thus a critical defense position; 1-16 and 1-17 WHEREAS, Associated Press photojournalist Joseph Rosenthal 1-18 photographed the men at the triumphant moment of the flag-raising 1-19 on Mount Suribachi, and his photograph became one of the most 1-20 famous and inspiring images of the war; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Sculptor Felix de Weldon used the image to create 1-22 the Iwo Jima Monument in Arlington, Virginia, and Dr. de Weldon 1-23 donated the original cast of the monument for display at the Marine 1-24 Military Academy in Harlingen; and 2-1 WHEREAS, On February 18, 1995, the Marine Military Academy in 2-2 Harlingen will dedicate a special shrine on its grounds to honor 2-3 Marine Corporal Harlon Block; and 2-4 WHEREAS, In this monument to one of the greatest moments in 2-5 Marine Corps history, Corporal Block is depicted at the forefront 2-6 of the group of five marines and one Navy corpsman, driving the 2-7 flagstaff into the rocky terrain; he was the only Texan to take 2-8 part in this historic moment; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Tragically, Corporal Block was killed in action just 2-10 one week later, one of more than 23,000 American casualties in this 2-11 campaign that the Marine Corps considers one of the toughest and 2-12 costliest battles in its 219-year history; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Marine Corporal Harlon Block was among hundreds of 2-14 thousands of American youths who answered the call to serve their 2-15 country in its hour of need, and his death symbolizes the heroic 2-16 sacrifice of all who have given their lives to ensure continued 2-17 peace; as we approach the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo 2-18 Jima, it is only appropriate that we commemorate those valiant 2-19 individuals who have fought and died for freedom and democracy; 2-20 now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-22 offer its support of the plan to honor Marine Corporal Harlon Block 2-23 and pay tribute to him and all the other brave individuals who 2-24 served on Iwo Jima and exhibited uncommon valor at a critical 2-25 moment in our nation's history; and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 2-27 for the family of Corporal Block, the Marine Military Academy, the 3-1 City of Weslaco, and the City of Harlingen, and that when the Texas 3-2 House of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in 3-3 memory of Marine Corporal Harlon Block and all those who fought on 3-4 Iwo Jima.