H.R. No. 562
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, At the beginning of the Civil War, the Congress of
1-2 the United States instituted the Congressional Medal of Honor, the
1-3 nation's highest military decoration, as a means of paying tribute
1-4 to soldiers who have demonstrated uncommon valor and selflessness
1-5 in the line of duty; and
1-6 WHEREAS, On March 11, 1995, First Lieutenant Jack Lummus of
1-7 the Marine Reserves was posthumously awarded a special duplicate
1-8 Congressional Medal of Honor and Purple Heart, nearly 50 years to
1-9 the day that he gave his life to defend his fellow corpsmen on the
1-10 island of Iwo Jima and to ensure American victory in the Pacific
1-11 during World War II; and
1-12 WHEREAS, A native of Ennis, this truly remarkable Texan
1-13 attended Baylor University before the war, distinguishing himself
1-14 as one of the finest athletes ever to play in the Lone Star State;
1-15 a nominee for All-American honors, he was selected to three
1-16 all-conference baseball teams and to the all-conference football
1-17 squad before signing with the New York Giants football team in 1940
1-18 and playing with the Wichita Falls Texans baseball team during the
1-19 1941 season; and
1-20 WHEREAS, His promising career in professional sports drew to
1-21 a close on January 30, 1942, when he answered his nation's call to
1-22 arms and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserves; this
1-23 exceptional young man was then transferred to Camp Pendleton, near
1-24 San Diego, California, and his intelligence and athletic prowess
2-1 quickly won him the respect of both his commanding officers and
2-2 fellow soldiers; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Two weeks before Christmas of 1943, while still
2-4 stationed at Camp Pendleton, Lieutenant Lummus met and fell in love
2-5 with a local girl, Mary Hartman, and by New Year's Day the couple
2-6 had become engaged; their marriage plans, however, were delayed
2-7 when Mary's mother insisted that the young couple wait until the
2-8 end of the war before exchanging their vows, forcing them to
2-9 continue their romance through correspondence when Lieutenant
2-10 Lummus's unit was transferred overseas; and
2-11 WHEREAS, In January of 1945, this outstanding Texan was sent
2-12 to Iwo Jima to serve as a liaison officer, and, as the battle grew
2-13 more fierce on this small Pacific island, he was placed in command
2-14 of a rifle platoon from Company E, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines; and
2-15 WHEREAS, On March 8, 1945, after his platoon had already
2-16 engaged in two days of continuous fighting, Lieutenant Lummus led
2-17 his men on an assault against a well-defended Japanese
2-18 entrenchment, where they were confronted with withering enemy fire
2-19 and where he sustained a severe leg injury from a grenade
2-20 explosion; undaunted by the pain, Lieutenant Lummus continued the
2-21 charge, personally knocking out an occupied enemy pillbox before
2-22 being felled by a second grenade attack that shattered his
2-23 shoulder; and
2-24 WHEREAS, Rising to his feet once again, this extraordinary
2-25 soldier resumed his incredible one-man assault, destroying the
2-26 second emplacement and its occupants; returning to his platoon, he
2-27 called on his men to advance against the weakened enemy forces and
3-1 ordered the fire of supporting tanks; and
3-2 WHEREAS, Lieutenant Lummus once again demonstrated
3-3 unflinching bravery, charging into an open line of fire to
3-4 annihilate a heavily fortified installation and its defenders;
3-5 having single-handedly destroyed three enemy outposts, he again ran
3-6 back to his platoon to lead his men in securing the area; and
3-7 WHEREAS, During this final attack on the few enemy soldiers
3-8 still positioned in foxholes and trenches, Lieutenant Lummus was
3-9 mortally wounded when he stepped on a land mine; he continued to
3-10 offer his men words of praise and encouragement even as he was
3-11 carried from the field; and
3-12 WHEREAS, He died only a few hours later, having secured his
3-13 place in history as one of our nation's most outstanding soldiers;
3-14 this year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of
3-15 World War II, it is indeed appropriate that we reflect on the life
3-16 of this remarkable Texan and give thanks for the noble sacrifice he
3-17 and other soldiers have made in our behalf; now, therefore, be it
3-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-19 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of First Lieutenant Jack
3-20 Lummus of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and extend deepest
3-21 sympathy to his many friends and relatives; and, be it further
3-22 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-23 prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
3-24 Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Lieutenant
3-25 Jack Lummus.