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H.R. No. 1843
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Felix Longoria, a soldier from Three Rivers, gave
his life during World War II while fighting for the liberties of all
Americans, and in his death, this Texas hero became a galvanizing
force for the Mexican American civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, Private Longoria grew up in a segregated society,
one in which those of Mexican descent faced numerous restrictions
as second-class citizens; he knew equality as an American for only a
brief time in his life, during his service in the United States
Army; and
WHEREAS, Drafted on November 11, 1944, Private Longoria was
25 when he entered the military, leaving behind a wife and a
four-year-old daughter; he died on June 15, 1945, killed by a
Japanese sniper while serving on a voluntary scouting patrol in the
Cagayan Valley, Luzon, Philippines; and
WHEREAS, When Private Longoria's remains were returned to the
States, his widow, Beatriz Longoria, and her sister contacted Dr.
Hector Garcia, a Corpus Christi physician; the previous year, Dr.
Garcia had organized the American G.I. Forum to help Latino
veterans secure the benefits and medical treatment owed them by
law; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Garcia sent a request via telegram to 17
government officials; he also called a meeting of the Corpus
Christi chapter of the forum to discuss a course of action; during
the meeting, which drew an attendance of more than 1,000 people, a
telegram arrived from the state's junior senator, Lyndon B.
Johnson, saying that he had arranged for Private Longoria to be
buried in Arlington National Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, Private Longoria was buried at Arlington on February
16, 1949; joining his family at the ceremony were Senator Johnson
and Lady Bird Johnson, Congressman John Lyle, and General Harry H.
Vaughan, a military aide to President Harry Truman; and
WHEREAS, Through his pride in his country and his readiness
to go above and beyond his duty, Felix Longoria typified thousands
of Latino servicemen, and the shameful treatment initially accorded
him in death encouraged the American G.I. Forum to expand the scope
of its efforts and gave forceful impetus to the Mexican American
civil rights movement; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby pay special tribute to the memory of Private
Felix Longoria for his selfless devotion to his country and the
cause of liberty and honor.
Gonzalez Toureilles
Herrero
Escobar
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1843 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 27, 2005.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House