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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the sorrow felt at |
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the loss of U.S. Army First Lieutenant Gwilym Josef Newman, who died |
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in Iraq on April 12, 2007, at the age of 24; and |
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WHEREAS, Based at Fort Hood, Lieutenant Newman was attached |
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to the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat |
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Team, 1st Cavalry Division; he deployed to Iraq with Demon Company |
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in October 2006 and led a platoon that was tasked with apprehending |
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insurgents in Tarmiya who were setting up roadside bombs under |
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cover of darkness; Lieutenant Newman was mortally wounded while on |
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dismounted patrol; and |
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WHEREAS, This valiant soldier was born in Thousand Oaks, |
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California, on April 27, 1982; he spent part of his childhood in |
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Barnegat, New Jersey, and completed high school in Waldorf, |
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Maryland, graduating a year ahead of his class; in December 2003, he |
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earned a degree from Frostburg State University, where he majored |
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in psychology and minored in biology; and |
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Newman enlisted in the army in June 2004 |
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and received his commission in January 2005; the son of a nurse and |
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an army research physicist, he had his sights set on attending |
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medical school; and |
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WHEREAS, Gwilym Newman met his future wife, Samantha Rose, in |
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1999, and the couple married in 2004; their son, Gwilym Alexander, |
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was born the following year, on his father's birthday; and |
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WHEREAS, An independent thinker who enjoyed learning and who |
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possessed a wide range of knowledge, Lieutenant Newman is also |
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remembered with great affection for his exuberant spirit, his keen |
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sense of humor, and his ability to brighten everyone's day; he cared |
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deeply for his family and cherished the holidays because they were |
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joyous family occasions; and |
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WHEREAS, The military awards conferred on Gwilym Newman |
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include the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart; and |
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WHEREAS, Lieutenant Newman performed his difficult mission |
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with exemplary dedication and professionalism; his unfaltering |
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devotion to honor, to the soldiers in his platoon, and to this |
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country reflected the highest ideals of the United States armed |
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forces, and his fellow citizens owe him a debt of gratitude that the |
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passage of time can never diminish; 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 memory of First Lieutenant |
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Gwilym Josef Newman and extend sincere sympathy to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Samantha L. Newman; to his son, Gwilym |
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Alexander Newman; to his mother, Christine A. Newman; to his sister |
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and brother, Brittany Marie and Patrick Donald Newman; to his |
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grandmother, Sheila Harrison; to his grandfather, Joseph Newman, |
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and his wife, Patricia; and to his other relatives and many friends; |
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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 First |
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Lieutenant Gwilym Josef Newman. |