1-1     By:  Sibley                                           S.C.R. No. 59
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed March 29, 1999; March 30, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
 1-4     Military Installations; April 13, 1999, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 13, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established
 1-8     by the 58th Texas Legislature to honor gallant and intrepid service
 1-9     by a member of the State Military Forces of Texas, and through his
1-10     courageous actions during battle in World War II, First Lieutenant
1-11     Jack Llewellyn Knight distinguished himself as a worthy recipient
1-12     of this prestigious honor; and
1-13           WHEREAS, A native of Garner, Texas, First Lieutenant Knight
1-14     in October, 1940, at the age of 24 enlisted in Troop F, 124th
1-15     Cavalry Regiment of the Texas Army National Guard; the unit was
1-16     mustered into federal service on November 18, 1940; and
1-17           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight was sent to Burma in
1-18     September, 1944, assigned as Troop F Commander, and given the task
1-19     of taking control of the Burma Road and stopping all Japanese
1-20     movement of supplies along the route; and
1-21           WHEREAS, On February 2, 1945, near Loi-Kang, Burma, First
1-22     Lieutenant Knight and his brother, Sergeant Curtis Knight, along
1-23     with members of their unit, were ambushed without warning after
1-24     they climbed a hill overlooking the Burma Road in order to observe
1-25     the enemy; and
1-26           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight, preceding his men by at
1-27     least 10 feet, led an attack against the enemy amid heavy
1-28     concentrations of enemy mortar, artillery, and small arms fire; he
1-29     singlehandedly knocked out two enemy pillboxes and killed the
1-30     inhabitants of several foxholes; and
1-31           WHEREAS, This courageous soldier was struck and blinded by an
1-32     enemy grenade while attempting to knock out a third pillbox; unable
1-33     to see, he rallied his cavalry troop and continued to lead the
1-34     assault against the remaining pillboxes before being mortally
1-35     wounded; and
1-36           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight's gallantry and intrepidity
1-37     were responsible for the successful elimination of most of the
1-38     enemy positions and served as an inspiration to officers and men of
1-39     his troop; and
1-40           WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Knight was awarded our nation's
1-41     highest memorial, the Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously on
1-42     June 4, 1945, the only Medal of Honor recipient from the
1-43     China-Burma-India theater of operations; and
1-44           WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor is the highest
1-45     commendation Texans can bestow on members of our state military
1-46     forces, and it is only appropriate that it be awarded to First
1-47     Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight; now, therefore, be it
1-48           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-49     hereby posthumously confer the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor on
1-50     First Lieutenant Jack Llewellyn Knight in recognition of his heroic
1-51     service and express to his family our deepest appreciation on
1-52     behalf of all his fellow Texans; and, be it further
1-53           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
1-54     prepared for the family of First Lieutenant Knight as an expression
1-55     of highest regard by the Texas Legislature.
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