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H.R. No. 1597
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Since its creation almost a century ago, the U.S.
Army's Second (Indian Head) Division has rendered exceptional
service to this nation in both times of war and times of peace; and
WHEREAS, The Second Division was formed in France in October
1917, when it was composed of one brigade of artillery, one brigade
of infantry, and one brigade of U.S. Marines; it is the only U.S.
Army division ever to be formed on foreign soil and also the only
one ever to be commanded by a Marine, Major General John A. LeJeune;
the Second Division distinguished itself in six major campaigns in
World War I, capturing more enemy soldiers than any other division;
and
WHEREAS, Landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day plus one during
World War II, the Second Division subsequently fought in five major
campaigns and at one point stayed on the front line for 71 days,
longer than any other division; in the Battle of the Bulge, the
Second Division faced three German divisions and stopped the enemy
advance on Antwerp, thereby saving the First U.S. Army; it later led
the liberation of Czechoslovakia, the first country captured by the
Germans and the last one freed; and
WHEREAS, During the Korean War the Second Division fought
gallantly in eight major campaigns; at Kuna Ri, it faced and stopped
troops of the Chinese army, allowing the Eighth U.S. Army to
withdraw and reorganize; over the course of that long and grueling
war to ensure a free and secure South Korean peninsula, the Second
Division suffered the heaviest casualties of all divisions under
U.N. command; and
WHEREAS, Between the First and Second World Wars, the Second
Division was stationed at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio; members
of the division routinely hiked with full packs and equipment along
19 miles of Farm-to-Market Road 1535 to Camp Bullis, where they
trained in tick-infested woods and bivouacked for a week or more in
pup tents before hiking the return route to the fort; and
WHEREAS, In honor of the thousands of brave and dedicated
soldiers who have served under the banner of the Second (Indian
Head) Division and those who are serving today at Camp Casey, South
Korea, as the Second Infantry Division, the chief U.S. force
stationed in that country as a deterrent to North Korea, the Texas
Legislature has designated FM 1535 in San Antonio as the Second
Indian Head Division Memorial Highway; and
WHEREAS, Citizens of this nation owe an immeasurable debt to
the members of the Second Division, who have served valiantly
through many arduous trials and whose efforts and sacrifice have
secured the liberties of countless people at home and abroad; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the members of the U.S. Army's
Second (Indian Head) Division for their devotion to duty, honor,
and their country and extend to them profound appreciation for
their heroic and steadfast service.
Mercer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1597 was adopted by the House on May
30, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House