H.R. No. 558 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The courageous men of the 15th Air Force, 464th Bomb 1-2 Group, 776th Squadron, served their country with exceptional honor 1-3 and distinction during the campaign to liberate Europe in World War 1-4 II; and 1-5 WHEREAS, On July 28, 1944, the 776th Squadron flew a mission 1-6 over Ploesti, Romania, and encountered heavy enemy fire that 1-7 severely damaged several of its B-24 bombers; although the crew 1-8 members on one of the bombers did everything possible to keep their 1-9 craft in the air, it went down behind enemy lines; and 1-10 WHEREAS, Trapped in hostile territory, some for nearly a 1-11 year, these resolute soldiers endured tremendous hardships during 1-12 that time before finally finding their way to freedom after VE Day; 1-13 and 1-14 WHEREAS, A reunion will be held on April 20-24, 1995, in 1-15 Llano, Texas, to honor the many significant contributions of the 1-16 six remaining crew members of this mission, whose courage and 1-17 determination exemplify the finest aspects of military service; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Those individuals who freely risked their lives in 1-19 service to their country during World War II have helped to 1-20 preserve for all Americans the cherished liberties that unify us as 1-21 a nation, and their unflinching bravery in the line of duty is 1-22 truly worthy of special legislative recognition; now, therefore, be 1-23 it 1-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-1 Legislature hereby honor Jim Inks, Lloyd Aclin, Lewis Perkins, 2-2 Willard Griffin, Robert McCormick, and Jake Schuffert of the 776th 2-3 Squadron for their valiant service in advancing the cause of 2-4 freedom; and, be it further 2-5 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared 2-6 for these gallant men as an expression of high regard by the Texas 2-7 House of Representatives.