H.R. No. 158



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Members of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, one of the 
first American units to land in Europe during World War II, are 
celebrating the 60th anniversary of that historic event; and
	WHEREAS, The 143rd was mobilized on November 25, 1940, as 
part of the 36th Infantry Division; after training at Camp Bowie in 
Brownwood, and later at Camp Blandings in Florida and Fort Edwards 
in Massachusetts, the regiment shipped out for North Africa in 
April 1943; and
	WHEREAS, On September 9, 1943, the 143rd took part in the 
first American invasion of mainland Europe, going ashore at the 
town of Paestum, near Salerno, Italy; resistance was intense, and 
the casualties the unit sustained there rank as some of the heaviest 
in its history; the following December the regiment succeeded in 
capturing San Pietro, thus breaking the Winter Line, and on June 4, 
1944, the troops of the 143rd became the first Allied force to reach 
Rome; and
	WHEREAS, Following campaigns in Italy, the regiment 
participated in the invasion of southern France and fought its way 
into Germany, where, in its last major battle, it breached the 
Siegfried Line and reached the Rhine; over the course of its service 
in World War II, the 143rd spent 386 days in combat, suffered 9,000 
casualties, and captured 75,000 German soldiers; it earned five 
Presidential Unit Citations, and five members were awarded the 
Medal of Honor; and
	WHEREAS, This distinguished regiment, descended from Texas 
units formed in the 19th century and composed primarily of Central 
Texans throughout its history, was officially organized October 15, 
1917, and first saw action in Europe in World War I; part of the 
Texas National Guard during peacetime, it has assisted civilian 
authorities in responding to such large-scale disasters as the New 
London school explosion of 1937 and the Waco tornado of 1953; in 
1968, with the retirement of the 36th Infantry Division, the 
regiment was reorganized as an airborne unit; and
	WHEREAS, Citizens of the United States owe an immeasurable 
debt to the members of the 143rd Infantry Regiment, whose valiant 
efforts and great sacrifice helped to secure the Allied victory in 
World War II, and whose readiness to serve in time of peace as well 
as war has also contributed to the security of the nation; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor members of the 143rd 
Infantry Regiment on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of their 
landing in Europe and extend to them profound gratitude for their 
heroic and selfless actions in this nation's behalf; and, be it 
further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for members of the 143rd Infantry Regiment as an 
expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                          Dunnam

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 158 was adopted by the House on July 
28, 2003, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House