H.C.R. No. 118
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport
Squadron 234 (VMGR-234), based at NAS Fort Worth, Joint Reserve
Base, have rendered exceptional service to their country during
their mobilization for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation
Iraqi Freedom as part of the Global War on Terrorism; and
WHEREAS, A detachment of six aircraft and more than half the
squadron personnel from VMGR-234 were mobilized in January 2002 to
serve overseas in Operation Enduring Freedom; from February through
May and from July to November 2002, the VMGR-234 deployed aircraft
and personnel to forward operating bases in Bahrain, Afghanistan,
Pakistan, and Kyrghyzstan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom
and to assist various ground and aviation units in the Middle East;
and
WHEREAS, In January 2003, all remaining reserve personnel and
aircraft were mobilized for service in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and
the entire unit remained mobilized until January 2005; from January
through October 2003, the squadron supported combat and
nation-building activities in Iraq while attached to the First
Marine Expeditionary Force; between the summer of 2002 and January
2005, the Marines of VMGR-234 also supported operations and
training in Kosovo and the eastern Mediterranean, Okinawa, Korea,
Southeast Asia, Australia, and the Horn of Africa; most of these
deployments were in direct support of the Global War on Terrorism
and other U.S. military operations; and
WHEREAS, During the three years of their mobilization, the
dedicated Marines of VMGR-234 flew more than 6,700 sorties and
logged over 17,500 flight hours, of which almost 14,000 were logged
overseas; the squadron carried nearly 41,000 passengers, delivered
more than 22 million pounds of cargo, and supplied over 15 million
pounds of fuel to fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters through
in-air refueling; and
WHEREAS, This gallant squadron received the Presidential
Unit Citation for extraordinary heroism in action in Iraq in the
spring of 2003; and
WHEREAS, Through their courage, professionalism, and
unfaltering commitment to duty, the members of VMGR-234 exemplify
the highest standards of the United States Marine Corps, and their
fellow citizens owe them an immeasurable debt of gratitude for
their steadfast efforts in serving this nation; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby honor all those who have served in the U.S. Marine Corps
since September 11, 2001, and especially commend the members of
Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234 for their valiant and
selfless service in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Orr
Craddick Geren Menendez
Allen of Harris Giddings Merritt
Allen of Dallas Gonzales Miller
Alonzo Gonzalez Toureilles Moreno of Harris
Anchia Goodman Moreno of El Paso
Anderson Goolsby Morrison
Bailey Griggs Mowery
Baxter Grusendorf Naishtat
Berman Guillen Nixon
Blake Haggerty Noriega
Bohac Hamilton Oliveira
Bonnen Hamric Olivo
Branch Hardcastle Orr
Brown of Kaufman Harper-Brown Otto
Brown of Brazos Hartnett Paxton
Burnam Hegar Pena
Callegari Herrero Phillips
Campbell Hilderbran Pickett
Casteel Hill Pitts
Castro Hochberg Puente
Chavez Hodge Quintanilla
Chisum Homer Raymond
Coleman Hope Reyna
Cook of Navarro Hopson Riddle
Cook of Colorado Howard Ritter
Corte Hughes Rodriguez
Crabb Hunter Rose
Crownover Hupp Seaman
Davis of Harris Isett Smith of Tarrant
Davis of Dallas Jackson Smith of Harris
Dawson Jones of Lubbock Smithee
Delisi Jones of Dallas Solis
Denny Keel Solomons
Deshotel Keffer of Dallas Strama
Driver Keffer of Eastland Straus
Dukes King of Parker Swinford
Dunnam King of Zavala Talton
Dutton Kolkhorst Taylor
Edwards Krusee Thompson
Eiland Kuempel Truitt
Eissler Laney Turner
Elkins Laubenberg Uresti
Escobar Leibowitz Van Arsdale
Farabee Luna Veasey
Farrar Madden Villarreal
Flores Martinez Vo
Flynn Martinez Fischer West
Frost McCall Wong
Gallego McClendon Woolley
Gattis McReynolds Zedler
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 118 was adopted by the House on
March 30, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 118 was adopted by the Senate on
March 30, 2005, by a viva-voce vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor