H.R. No. 889



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The family and friends of Chief Warrant Officer 
Johnny Villarreal Mata of Pecos have sustained a great loss with the 
death of this courageous soldier in the Iraqi campaign at the age of 
35; and
	WHEREAS, Chief Warrant Officer Mata was among a group of 
soldiers from the 507th Maintenance Company that was ambushed by 
Iraqi forces on March 23, 2003, in southern Iraq; before being 
deployed to the Persian Gulf, he was stationed at Fort Bliss in El 
Paso; and
	WHEREAS, This respected Texan attended Pecos High School and 
played for the school's football team; he received his diploma in 
1986; and
	WHEREAS, Americans owe an immeasurable debt to their military 
personnel, who have served valiantly throughout this country's 
history and whose efforts and sacrifice in their nation's behalf 
are deserving of their fellow citizens' deepest gratitude; and
	WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and 
his country, Chief Warrant Officer Mata embodied the highest ideals 
of the armed service, and the blessing of his life will be forever 
cherished by those who were privileged to share his love and 
friendship; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the life of Chief Warrant 
Officer Johnny Villarreal Mata and extend sincere sympathy to his 
parents, Domingo and Elvira Mata, and to his other relatives and 
many friends; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House 
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Chief 
Warrant Officer Johnny Villarreal Mata.

                                                                         Gallego


                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 889 was unanimously adopted by a 
rising vote of the House on May 23, 2003.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House