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. 1-56 * * * * *