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                                                                  H.R. No. 519


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Specialist Clinton R. Gertson suffered a terrible loss with the death of this brave young soldier in Iraq on February 19, 2005, at the age of 26; and WHEREAS, Inspired to join the army by the events of September 11, 2001, Clint Gertson enlisted on January 6, 2003, and completed his original two-year tour of duty in January of this year; although he could have returned home at that time and had already been injured once, this patriotic Texan re-enlisted and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, when he was killed in action while on combat patrol in western Mosul; and WHEREAS, A beloved son and brother, he grew up on his family's farm in Eagle Lake, where he enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming rice, and running cattle; Specialist Gertson was named football lineman of the year and was voted Most Spirited by his senior class at Rice High School; after his graduation in 1998, he went on to pursue his higher education at Wharton County Junior College and McMurry University in Abilene; and WHEREAS, His warm and ever-present smile, his easygoing nature, and his zest for life endeared him to countless friends, and his thoughtfulness and concern for others touched many hearts; and WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the hardships that he faced in a war zone, Specialist Gertson performed his work with pride and professionalism, his steadfast commitment to his mission made all the more firm by a strongly felt desire to help the Iraqi people; his outstanding service earned him a host of accolades, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; and WHEREAS, Through his unwavering dedication to duty, honor, and this country, Clint Gertson embodied the highest ideals of the armed services, and the blessing of his life will be forever treasured by those who were privileged to share in the warmth of his love and friendship; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas Legislature hereby honor the life of Clinton R. Gertson and extend deepest sympathy to his family: to his parents, Gayle and Susan Gertson and Elisa Adams; to his sister, Cori Gertson; to his brother, Matt Gertson, and his wife, Jo Lynn; to his niece, Taylor Gertson; to his grandparents, Ralph and JoAnn Gertson, Martha Ayers, and Dick and Darlene Keeter; to his great-grandmother, Pearl Ulrich; and to all those who mourn the loss of this beloved young man; 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 Clinton R. Gertson. Cook of Colorado 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 ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 519 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on February 24, 2005. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House