By:  Sibley                                           S.C.R. No. 59
         99S0909/1                           
                            SENATE 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, First Lieutenant
 1-5     Jack Llewellyn Knight distinguished himself as a worthy recipient
 1-6     of this prestigious honor; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, A native of Garner, Texas, First Lieutenant Knight
 1-8     in October, 1940, at the age of 24 enlisted in Troop F, 124th
 1-9     Cavalry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard; the unit was
1-10     mustered into federal service on November 18, 1940; and
1-11           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight was sent to Burma in
1-12     September, 1944, assigned as Troop F Commander, and given the task
1-13     of taking control of the Burma Road and stopping all Japanese
1-14     movement of supplies along the route; and
1-15           WHEREAS, On February 2, 1945, near Loi-Kang, Burma, First
1-16     Lieutenant Knight and his brother, Sergeant Curtis Knight, along
1-17     with members of their unit, were ambushed without warning after
1-18     they climbed a hill overlooking the Burma Road in order to observe
1-19     the enemy; and
1-20           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight, preceding his men by at
1-21     least 10 feet, led an attack against the enemy amid heavy
1-22     concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire; he
1-23     singlehandedly knocked out two enemy pillboxes and killed the
 2-1     inhabitants of several foxholes; and
 2-2           WHEREAS, This courageous soldier was struck and blinded by an
 2-3     enemy grenade while attempting to knock out a third pillbox; unable
 2-4     to see, he rallied his cavalry troop and continued to lead the
 2-5     assault against the remaining pillboxes before being mortally
 2-6     wounded; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight's gallantry and intrepidity
 2-8     were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the
 2-9     enemy positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of
2-10     his troop; and
2-11           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight was awarded our nation's
2-12     highest memorial, the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously on
2-13     June 4, 1945, the only Medal of Honor recipient from the
2-14     China-Burma-India theater of operations; and
2-15           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest
2-16     commendation Texans can bestow on members of our state military
2-17     forces, and it is only appropriate that it be awarded to First
2-18     Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight; now, therefore, be it
2-19           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-20     hereby posthumously confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on
2-21     First Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight in recognition of his heroic
2-22     service and express to his family our deepest appreciation on
2-23     behalf of all his fellow Texans; and, be it further
2-24           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-25     prepared for the family of First Lieutenant Knight as an expression
 3-1     of highest regard by the Texas Legislature.