By Turner of Coleman                                   H.R. No. 558
       74R10024 WMS-D
                                  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.