1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 491
 1-3           WHEREAS, The citizens of our great country are the recipients
 1-4     of rights and privileges which have been protected throughout our
 1-5     history by the bravery of our men and women in the armed services; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, One such hero who risked his life for his countrymen
 1-7     during World War II is former Second Lieutenant Herbert F. Frels
 1-8     of Cuero, and his courageous acts were accorded great respect,
 1-9     demonstrated by his receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross; and
1-10           WHEREAS, The Distinguished Flying Cross is an award created to
1-11     honor intrepid and gallant service by a member of the United States
1-12     Army during aerial flight; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Headed on a bombing run from Italy on June 13, 1944,
1-14     Lieutenant Frels and his crew of nine were intending to hit a ball
1-15     bearing factory in Munich, Germany; instead, the young pilot and his
1-16     crew were shot down and crashed behind enemy lines; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Burned in the crash of his aircraft and wounded by
1-18     shrapnel, Lieutenant Frels protected his crew and inspired and
1-19     encouraged them by his personal example; and
1-20           WHEREAS, The injured young man was in a hospital for two months
1-21     and then spent 11 months in a prisoner of war camp in Barth, Germany,
1-22     until he was liberated by the Allied forces; he earned the Prisoner
1-23     of War Medal in recognition of his experiences in enemy territory; and
1-24           WHEREAS, Presently this notable patriot gives his time and
 2-1     energy to organizations and veterans' groups in his community; for
 2-2     many years Mr. Frels has been a Cuero school board trustee, has been
 2-3     president of the board two times, and has been the chair of the
 2-4     DeWitt County Appraisal District Board of Directors; and
 2-5           WHEREAS, In addition, Mr. Frels was instrumental in
 2-6     establishing the Cuero Veterans of Foreign Wars; he served as the
 2-7     first commander of the post from 1967 to 1969, was named to the
 2-8     All-State Commander's Team in 1967, and was chosen District 24
 2-9     commander in 1970; and
2-10           WHEREAS, It is an honor for the Texas Senate to pause and to
2-11     pay homage to one of its many citizens who risked his all for the
2-12     defense of the country he cherishes and to express its great
2-13     admiration for his valiant actions as a member of the United States
2-14     Army in World War II; now, therefore, be it
2-15           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-16     76th Legislature, hereby commend Herbert F. Frels on his reception
2-17     of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his admirable service during
2-18     World War II; and, be it further
2-19           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him
2-20     as an expression of the highest regard of the Texas Senate.
2-21                                                              Armbrister
2-22                                  ______________________________________
2-23                                          President of the Senate
2-24                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-25                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-26                                  on March 25, 1999.
2-27                                  ______________________________________
2-28                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-29                                  ______________________________________
2-30                                           Member, Texas Senate