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.