79R17300 JHS-D
By: Escobar H.R. No. 1845
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Cruz Mata, a lifelong resident of Kingsville and
Kleberg County, proudly served his country during World War II, and
his bravery and courage on the front lines have earned him the
lasting respect of several generations of Americans; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mata was captured while fighting the German army
in France; during his time as a soldier, he kept a personal diary of
his experiences during the war, including his capture by the
Germans and his incarceration in a prison camp; and
WHEREAS, Despite the harsh interrogation techniques of the
Germans, Mr. Mata never wavered in doing his patriotic duty,
offering only his name, rank, and serial number to his captors; not
entirely fluent in English at the time of his capture, Mr. Mata may
have been mistaken for one of the army's Navajo code talkers, whose
language was developed into one of the most successful and
significant military codes of all time; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Mata never gave up hope during his imprisonment,
remaining confident that America would prevail against the Axis
Powers, and his belief, of course, was ultimately realized; after
the war, he returned to Kingsville, where he worked for many years
before enjoying a well-deserved retirement; and
WHEREAS, A proud family man, an exemplary citizen, and an
honorable veteran, Mr. Mata is blessed with many wonderful friends
in Kingsville and Kleberg Counties, and this recognition is indeed
well deserved; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas
Legislature hereby honor U.S. Army veteran Cruz Mata for his
service to America and his contributions to ensuring the freedom
that we all enjoy because of proud soldiers like him who have served
our country with distinction; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Mata as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.