H.R. No. 1178
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The generation of Americans that served this country
during World War II preserved this nation's freedom for decades to
come, and the Japanese Americans of the 442nd Regimental Combat
Team set an inspirational example of the bravery and dedication to
duty that were required to assure victory in that conflict; and
WHEREAS, Soon after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December
7, 1941, Japanese Americans were reclassified to 4-C, "Enemy
Alien," status and were barred from enlisting in the U.S. military;
moreover, countless men and women, many of whom were U.S. citizens,
were relocated and incarcerated in internment camps; and
WHEREAS, In January 1943, President Roosevelt and the War
Department made the decision to allow Japanese Americans to
volunteer for service; in May of that same year, approximately
1,800 men assembled for training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, Embracing the motto "Go for Broke," the troops of
the 442nd Regiment fought in eight major campaigns in Italy,
France, and Germany and, in less than two years of combat, earned
more than 18,000 individual decorations, including one Medal of
Honor, 53 Distinguished Service Crosses, 588 Silver Stars, 5,200
Bronze Star Medals, nearly 9,500 Purple Hearts, and eight
Presidential Unit Citations, the nation's top award for combat
units; and
WHEREAS, In June 2002, the unit received further
acknowledgment when President Bill Clinton awarded an additional 20
Medals of Honor to its members; and
WHEREAS, The 442nd Regimental Combat Team gallantly served in
battles at Belmont and Bruyeres, but an incident known as the Rescue
of the Lost Battalion at Biffontaine is perhaps the team's most
extraordinary action; and
WHEREAS, In this legendary confrontation, the unit lost more
than 800 troops while on a dangerous mission to rescue members of
the 1st Battalion, 141st Regiment, 36th Infantry Division, out of
Texas; by placing themselves directly in harm's way, time and again
they rendered service and sacrifice that are truly beyond measure;
and
WHEREAS, Through their unfaltering devotion to duty, honor,
and this nation, Japanese American soldiers such as these embody
the highest ideals of the U.S. armed forces and indeed merit the
gratitude and admiration of their fellow citizens; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby honor Japanese Americans for their courageous
service during World War II and commend them for their heroism in
behalf of this nation.
Vo
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. 1178 was adopted by the House on April
14, 2005, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House