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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 50

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
join the United States Army and citizens across the nation in 
recognizing 13 members of the 507th Maintenance Company and the 
76th Military Police Battalion of Fort Bliss for their bravery 
and heroism during Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

	WHEREAS, The 227th birthday of the founding of this 
great country was selected as the special occasion for the Army 
at Fort Bliss to honor 13 soldiers for their exemplary service; 
the 507th Maintenance Company suffered some of the heaviest 
losses of any unit in Iraq, with nine soldiers killed, six taken 
prisoner, and four wounded; and

	WHEREAS, Nine members of the maintenance company and four 
members of the 76th Military Police Battalion received some of 
the nation's most prestigious awards for their actions during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom during the annual Fourth of July 
celebration at Fort Bliss; and

	WHEREAS, Private First Class Patrick Miller of Wichita, 
Kansas, received the Silver Star Medal, the nation's fourth-highest
award for bravery, the Purple Heart, and the Prisoner of War 
Medal; and

	WHEREAS, Specialist Shoshana Johnson of El Paso, who was 
shot in the ankle, received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, 
and the Prisoner of War Medal; Specialist Edgar Hernandez of 
Mission also received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and 
the Prisoner of War Medal; and

	WHEREAS, Sergeant Matthew Rose of Salem, Oregon, received 
the Bronze Star with Valor Device, and Sergeant James Riley of 
Pennsauken, New Jersey, received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart,
and the Prisoner of War Medal; and

	WHEREAS, Sergeant Curtis Campbell of Brooklyn, New York, 
received the Bronze Star; Specialist Joseph Hudson of Alamogordo,
New Mexico, received the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, and the 
Prisoner of War Medal; and

	WHEREAS, Specialist James Grubb of Manchester, Kentucky, 
received the Bronze Star, and Corporal Francis Carista of Rahway, 
New Jersey, received the Purple Heart; and

	WHEREAS, Two soldiers from the 76th Military Police 
Battalion came under fire and received wounds on June 4, 2003, 
while on a routine patrol mission in support of the 4th Infantry 
Division north of Baghdad; Private First Class Candice May of 
Winter Haven, Florida, and Specialist Alan Raymond Hill of 
Dunseith, North Dakota, received Purple Heart Medals; and


	WHEREAS, The following day, Private First Class 
Jeremy Bristol of McKinney and Specialist Pedro Rodriguez of 
El Paso, also of the 76th Battalion, received shrapnel wounds 
defending a water plant in Balad, Iraq; both soldiers received 
the Purple Heart Medal; and

	WHEREAS, The State of Texas is grateful to these brave 
soldiers who risked their lives in support of their country's 
mission and the cause of freedom; the courage and heroism they 
demonstrated in facing the challenges of Operation Iraqi Freedom 
have brought honor to themselves, their families, and their 
country; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 
78th Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend these 
members of the 507th Maintenance Company and the 76th Military 
Police Battalion for their service to their country during 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and extend to them best wishes for the 
future; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
them as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.
                                                                       Shapleigh




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on July 14, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate