H.R. No. 1531


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, San Antonio's Jose M. Lopez distinguished himself through his legendary acts of bravery and valor as a member of the United States Army during World War II, and it is indeed a privilege to pay tribute to him at this time; and WHEREAS, Sergeant Lopez ably served as a machine gunner in the army's 23rd Infantry, 2nd Division, and for his selfless actions he was named a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor; he became the fourth American of Mexican descent to receive this prestigious honor, and his heroism has inspired countless individuals; and WHEREAS, On December 17, 1944, with his company entrenched in combat in Belgium, Sergeant Lopez single-handedly held off the enemy with his heavy machine gun, protecting his company's flank until it was able to safely withdraw from the area; and WHEREAS, Virtually unprotected from enemy fire, he withstood the German artillery and fought back the advancing infantry; his decisive actions and remarkable courage prevented his company's position from being outflanked and saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers; and WHEREAS, At a time when courage and heroism are in high demand, it is important to honor those heroes who led the way with their selflessness and patriotism for those who have followed in their footsteps, and Jose M. Lopez is most deserving of this recognition; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to Sergeant Jose M. Lopez for his courageous efforts during World War II and extend to him the heartfelt gratitude and admiration of his fellow citizens; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Lopez as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Uresti 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. 1531 was adopted by the House on May 16, 2005, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House