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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Corporal Ryan |
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Alan Bishop of Tyler suffered an immeasurable loss with the death of |
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this valiant soldier in Iraq on April 14, 2007, at the age of 32; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry |
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Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light |
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Infantry), at Fort Drum, New York, Corporal Bishop was mortally |
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wounded when an improvised explosive device was detonated while he |
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was on patrol in Baghdad; a specialist at the time of his death, he |
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was posthumously promoted to the rank of corporal and awarded a |
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Purple Heart and Bronze Star; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on May 2, 1974, in Tyler, Ryan Bishop graduated |
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in 1992 from Marshall High School, where two years earlier he had |
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played on the state football championship team; he went on to earn |
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an associate's degree in surveying from Tyler Junior College and to |
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pursue a successful career as a land surveyor; in 2005, inspired by |
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a friend's service in the military, he enlisted in the army and |
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subsequently earned the marksman badge during basic training at |
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Fort Benning, Georgia; motivated by a strong sense of duty and the |
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desire to help those in need, he was deployed to Iraq in August |
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2006; and |
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WHEREAS, Corporal Bishop was beloved by all who knew him for |
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his charisma, wit, and generosity; an outdoors enthusiast, he |
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enjoyed cooking and listening to music, and he had a knack for |
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telling lively stories; and |
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WHEREAS, Our state and nation are fortunate to have men and |
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women whose love of country leads them to military duty, and time |
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can never diminish the profound debt that Americans owe to Ryan |
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Bishop for the service he undertook and the sacrifice he rendered; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Through his selfless devotion to duty, honor, and |
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his country, Corporal Bishop embodied the highest ideals of the |
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U.S. armed services, and his memory will be forever treasured by |
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those who shared in the blessing of his life; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Corporal Ryan Alan |
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Bishop and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to |
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his wife, Melanie Bishop; to his father, Charlie Bishop; to his |
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brother, Paul Bishop, and his wife, Wendy; to his grandmothers, |
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Freddie Ruth Bishop and Phyllis O'Neal Carter; and to his other |
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relatives and many friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Corporal |
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Ryan Alan Bishop. |