By Gutierrez                                           H.R. No. 445
       74R7892 KMP-D
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Granjeno resident Demetrio Ochoa served his nation
    1-2  with honor and distinction as a member of the United States Army
    1-3  from 1917 to 1919 and has received special commendation from the
    1-4  Department of Veterans Affairs, which last year presented him with
    1-5  a medal commemorating the 75th anniversary of World War I; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, The presentation occurred on February 6, 1994, and
    1-7  was attended by several hundred enthusiastic well-wishers,
    1-8  including Martin Villarreal of the Texas Veterans Commission,
    1-9  United States Congressman E. "Kika" de la Garza, and State
   1-10  Representative Roberto Gutierrez, who awarded Mr. Ochoa the flag
   1-11  that flew over the Texas State Capitol on Veterans Day 1993; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, Mr. Ochoa began his distinguished military career in
   1-13  1917, when he answered his country's call to arms and enlisted in
   1-14  the United States Army; he was soon on a train bound for Camp
   1-15  Dodge, Iowa, and later trained with the 11th Cavalry in an area
   1-16  where Civil War battles once took place; and
   1-17        WHEREAS, Stationed in Kentucky, Missouri, and the Panama
   1-18  Canal Zone during the war, Mr. Ochoa found himself in the company
   1-19  of many soldiers who were recent immigrants to the United States,
   1-20  and he quickly became a proficient speaker of Italian, French, and
   1-21  German; this remarkable ear for languages made him a much
   1-22  sought-after military translator, and he was recruited to serve in
   1-23  the offices of two top generals; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, This exceptional individual watched as his efforts
    2-1  helped bring an end to one of the fiercest wars in history, and on
    2-2  July 21, 1919, he received an honorable discharge; returning to
    2-3  civilian life, Mr. Ochoa spent some time in Minnesota and Illinois
    2-4  before returning to his roots in the Lone Star State, where he
    2-5  embarked on a number of successful careers in construction,
    2-6  masonry, and ranching; and
    2-7        WHEREAS, This fine Texan enjoyed a happy and rewarding family
    2-8  life with his wife of many years, the former Filomena Rios, and
    2-9  with his six children, Rosa, Ramiro, Maria, Pablo, Janie, and
   2-10  Demetrio, Jr.; he also takes great pride in his 10 grandchildren
   2-11  and his 12 great-grandchildren; and
   2-12        WHEREAS, Throughout his rich and productive life, Mr. Ochoa
   2-13  has shown himself to be a man of integrity and courage; he also has
   2-14  displayed unwavering dedication in serving his community, state,
   2-15  and nation, and his many notable accomplishments are indeed worthy
   2-16  of special legislative recognition at this time; now, therefore, be
   2-17  it
   2-18        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
   2-19  Legislature hereby commend Demetrio Ochoa for his outstanding
   2-20  service to the State of Texas and the United States of America;
   2-21  and, be it further
   2-22        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-23  prepared for Mr. Ochoa as an expression of gratitude and high
   2-24  regard by the Texas House of Representatives.