By Keffer                                             H.C.R. No. 32
         77R2184 GMW-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The efforts of all those involved with the Atlas
 1-2     Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) program were integral to
 1-3     ensuring the safety of our state and nation, and these admirable
 1-4     individuals are most deserving of special legislative recognition;
 1-5     and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The first operational ICBM system, the Convair Atlas
 1-7     was implemented by the United States Air Force's Strategic Air
 1-8     Command at the height of the Cold War in an effort to deter a
 1-9     nuclear attack from the Soviet Union; the Atlas F was the most
1-10     advanced of the ICBM series and was employed as a nuclear delivery
1-11     system, with squadrons of missiles located at six Air Force bases
1-12     across the country; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Near Abilene, Dyess Air Force Base was home to the
1-14     Strategic Air Command's 578th Strategic Missile Squadron, and from
1-15     1962 to 1965 the squadron operated the 12 Atlas F launch sites
1-16     located across the West Texas region; the success of these
1-17     sophisticated facilities required the hard work and cooperation of
1-18     numerous individuals, from the contractors who built them to the
1-19     highly trained "Missileers" who operated them; and
1-20           WHEREAS, During the early 1960s, the welfare of our nation
1-21     hung in the balance, and the significant contributions of the men
1-22     and women who engineered, constructed, and operated the Atlas
1-23     missiles undoubtedly helped the United States ward off potential
1-24     adversaries, enabling our great nation to remain free; now,
 2-1     therefore, be it
 2-2           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-3     hereby commend all those associated with the Atlas Intercontinental
 2-4     Ballistic Missile program and extend to them sincere appreciation
 2-5     for their commitment to the security and well-being of their fellow
 2-6     citizens.