By Merritt H.C.R. No. 238 75R13527 BNL-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established 1-2 by the 58th Texas Legislature to honor gallant and intrepid service 1-3 by a member of the State Military Forces of Texas, and through his 1-4 courageous actions during battle in World War II, Technical 1-5 Sergeant James Marion Logan has distinguished himself as a worthy 1-6 recipient of this prestigious honor; and 1-7 WHEREAS, A native Texan, Sergeant Logan enlisted in Company 1-8 I, Luling Guard, at the age of 17, and he remained with the unit 1-9 until it was mustered into federal service in November 1940; he was 1-10 serving as a rifleman in Company I, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th 1-11 Infantry Division (Texas National Guard) when his company landed on 1-12 the beach near Salerno, Italy, on September 9, 1943; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Sergeant Logan was the first soldier from his boat 1-14 to step ashore, and he and his colleagues had advanced only 800 1-15 yards before the enemy began a deadly counterattack from a 1-16 strategic position behind a rock wall; without regard for his own 1-17 safety, Sergeant Logan braved withering machine gun fire to dash 1-18 across 200 yards of exposed terrain, and on reaching the rock wall, 1-19 he crawled along its base until he reached the enemy machine gun; 1-20 and 1-21 WHEREAS, After shooting the two gunners, this courageous 1-22 soldier hurdled the wall, turned the machine gun on the Axis 1-23 forces, and opened fire with the remaining ammunition; he then 1-24 destroyed the machine gun and captured two enemy soldiers who were 2-1 attempting to escape; and 2-2 WHEREAS, Later that morning, Sergeant Logan again proved his 2-3 mettle by running through a gauntlet of gunfire to stop a sniper 2-4 attacking his company; his remarkable actions rallied his fellow 2-5 soldiers and helped to ensure the success of the beachhead at 2-6 Salerno; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Known as the "Hero of Salerno," Sergeant Logan was 2-8 awarded our nation's highest memorial, the Congressional Medal of 2-9 Honor, on July 5, 1944, and he also received the Presidential 2-10 Citation, the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, and 2-11 many other citations as well; he continues to support his local 2-12 guard unit in community activities and recruiting, and his 2-13 dedication to his state and nation has been an inspiration to all 2-14 who are privileged to know him; and 2-15 WHEREAS, Since its inception in 1963, the Texas Legislative 2-16 Medal of Honor has never been awarded to any individual; this award 2-17 is the highest commendation Texans can bestow on members of our 2-18 state military forces, and it is only appropriate that Technical 2-19 Sergeant James Marion Logan receive the inaugural Texas Legislative 2-20 Medal of Honor; now, therefore, be it 2-21 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-22 hereby confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on Sergeant 2-23 James Marion Logan in recognition of his heroic service and express 2-24 to him deepest appreciation in behalf of all his fellow Texans; 2-25 and, be it further 2-26 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-27 prepared for Sergeant Logan as an expression of highest regard by 3-1 the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.