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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant John R. Hoover has |
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been awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his meritorious service as |
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team leader of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Flight, 447th |
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Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, 447th Air Expeditionary |
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Group, at Sather Air Base, Iraq, from May 27, 2006, to October 3, |
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2006; and |
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WHEREAS, In support of the 2d Brigade Combat Team, 101st |
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Airborne Division (Air Assault), the 447th Expeditionary Group, and |
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the Iraqi Ministry of Transportation, Staff Sergeant Hoover |
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responded to EOD's busiest area of operations in Iraq covering 500 |
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square miles in the vicinity of Baghdad, Baghdad International |
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Airport, and Forward Operating Bases Falcon and Mahmudiyah; his |
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crucial leadership led to the safe resolution of 67 EOD emergency |
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responses, including 49 improvised explosive devices, four |
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unexploded ordnances, four post-blast analyses, and eight weapons |
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cache missions; moreover, he was instrumental in the destruction of |
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more than 1,000 ordnance items, 5,000 rounds of small arms |
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ammunition, numerous IED components, and 400 pounds of homemade |
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explosives; and |
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WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Hoover further distinguished himself |
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through his participation in Operation Yugo, during which he |
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supported Task Force Falcon in disrupting an AQIZ cell, and through |
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his technical expertise in the recovery of a downed Apache |
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helicopter, which required the removal of ammunition and missiles; |
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in addition, during one 18-hour period, he was charged with nine |
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emergency responses, including the safe return of a convoy after |
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one of its vehicles was disabled by an IED; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to Staff |
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Sergeant Hoover and to all of the country's military personnel, for |
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they are called on to bear great, often unimaginable, burdens, and |
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they render service and sacrifice that is truly beyond measure; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and |
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this nation, John Hoover embodies the highest ideals of the United |
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States armed forces, and it is indeed fitting to honor his |
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outstanding service in behalf of this nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Staff Sergeant John R. Hoover for his |
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heroic actions in Iraq and congratulate him on his receipt of the |
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Bronze Star Medal; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Staff Sergeant Hoover as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |