H.R. No. 1822

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, Citizens of Greenville and Hunt County are celebrating Audie Murphy Days on June 15 and 16, 2007, in commemoration of the famed Hunt County native and World War II hero; and

WHEREAS, Cohosted by the Audie Murphy/American Cotton Museum and by Hunt County veterans' organizations, this two-day extravaganza honors the most decorated American soldier of World War II; and

WHEREAS, Born near Kingston, Audie Murphy enlisted in the army in 1941 and rose from the rank of private to first lieutenant before being discharged on September 21, 1945; his valorous performance in the European theater earned him every American medal for bravery, as well as several foreign awards; and

WHEREAS, Chief among the prestigious accolades he received was the Medal of Honor, for which he was recommended after a stunning display of leadership and heroism as he led Company B of the 15th Infantry, 3rd Infantry Division, in battle near Holtzwihr, France, on January 26, 1945; in the face of an assault by six German tanks and waves of infantry, he ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in some woods while he remained in a forward position and directed Allied artillery fire by telephone; when the German tanks came abreast of his position, he mounted a burning Allied tank destroyer, which was in danger of exploding at any moment, and employed its machine gun against the German infantry, causing both the infantry and the German tanks to fall back; and

WHEREAS, Lieutenant Murphy continued his single-handed fight for an hour, enduring German fire from three directions and successfully wiping out a squad that tried to approach him on his right flank, some soldiers reaching within 10 yards of his position before being cut down; when his ammunition gave out, he withdrew, refused medical attention for a leg wound he had sustained, and organized a counterattack that forced the Germans to withdraw; his courageous and selfless actions saved his company from possible encirclement and annihilation and enabled it to hold the woods, which had been the Germans' objective; and

WHEREAS, Having gained national recognition as one of the country's bravest officers, Audie Murphy moved to California following the war and sought work as an actor; after struggling for several years, he went on to make 44 films during his 25-year screen career, including the 1955 box office hit To Hell and Back, which was based on his autobiography of the same name; in addition, he was a successful horse breeder and a talented songwriter; and

WHEREAS, A legendary figure in the annals of American history, Audie Murphy embodied the ideals of bravery, patriotism, and unflinching resolve, and it is most fitting that the life of this heroic American soldier be celebrated; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby recognize June 15 and 16, 2007, as Audie Murphy Days in Greenville and Hunt County and extend to the days' organizers and participants best wishes for a successful and memorable event; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Audie Murphy Days organizing committee as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Flynn

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 1822 was adopted by the House on May 18, 2007, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House