HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, On October 3-4, 1997, members of the 533rd

 1-2     Anti-aircraft Battalion, which valiantly served this country during

 1-3     World War II,  will meet in Austin, Texas, to celebrate their 18th

 1-4     reunion; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The 533rd Anti-aircraft Battalion was formed at Fort

 1-6     Bliss in El Paso and landed in Casablanca on March 9, 1942, as part

 1-7     of the  forces under the command of General George S. Patton;

 1-8     during the North Africa campaign, the battalion was deployed across

 1-9     French Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, and its men performed

1-10     admirably in the many varied missions the battalion was assigned;

1-11     and

1-12           WHEREAS, After North Africa was freed from Axis rule, the

1-13     533rd took part in the Allied Forces liberation of Europe, seeing

1-14     action in Sardinia, France, Germany, and Austria; after victory in

1-15     Europe, the battalion supported and gave guidance to the newly

1-16     formed municipal governments in Austria; and

1-17           WHEREAS, Throughout the course of this momentous conflict,

1-18     which included six campaigns, the soldiers of the 533rd

1-19     Anti-aircraft Battalion demonstrated unflinching bravery in combat,

1-20     aware that their efforts and those of their comrades-in-arms were

1-21     vital to the preservation of the freedoms all Americans hold dear;

1-22     and

1-23           WHEREAS, This year's event is being organized under the able

1-24     leadership of reunion president Bartley S. Hodges and first vice

 2-1     president Bill Weaver; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, History has shown repeatedly that our democracy is

 2-3     only as strong as those brave individuals on whom we rely to

 2-4     protect it, and it is indeed appropriate that the members of the

 2-5     533rd Anti-aircraft Battalion be recognized at this time for their

 2-6     sacrifices in the name of liberty; now, therefore, be it

 2-7           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

 2-8     hereby honor the members of the 533rd Anti-aircraft Battalion for

 2-9     their meritorious service to their nation and the cause of freedom

2-10     during World War II and, as they gather to remember that valuable

2-11     legacy, extend to them sincere best wishes for a memorable and

2-12     meaningful event; and, be it further

2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

2-14     prepared for the members of the 533rd Anti-aircraft Battalion as an

2-15     expression of high regard by the Legislature of the State of Texas.

                                                                      Talton

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 249 was adopted by the House on May

         23, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 249 was adopted by the Senate on

         June 2, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor