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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Captain Blake |
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Harrison Russell of Fort Worth suffered an immeasurable loss with |
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the death of this valiant soldier in Iraq on July 22, 2006, at the |
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age of 35; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the army's 1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry |
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Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air |
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Assault) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Captain Russell was killed |
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during combat operations in Baghdad while serving his second tour |
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of duty in Iraq; and |
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WHEREAS, Born September 7, 1970, in East Point, Georgia, |
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Blake Russell graduated in 1988 from Boswell High School in Fort |
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Worth, where he was a quarterback on the football team and a |
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shortstop on the baseball team; he served in the U.S. Navy before |
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attending Texas A&M University and earning a bachelor's degree in |
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marketing in 1998; and |
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WHEREAS, Following graduation, Captain Russell enlisted in |
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the army and went on to serve as a general's aide; deployed to Iraq |
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for the first time in 2003, he served as a field artillery officer |
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in Al Anbar Province, and on his return two years later, as chief of |
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an instruction team that lived and worked with Iraqi army troops; he |
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was recognized for his courageous service with the Bronze Star and |
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the Purple Heart; and |
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WHEREAS, Captain Russell was beloved by all who knew him for |
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his charm, wit, and chivalry; rarely seen without a smile, he |
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enjoyed five years of marriage to his wife, Bellinda, and he took |
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great pride in their children, Dylan and Haley; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unwavering dedication to duty and honor, |
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Blake Russell embodied the highest ideals of the United States |
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armed forces; although his death has left a void in the lives of |
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those who loved him, memories of his compassion, heroism, and |
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fortitude will forever be treasured; 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 U.S. Army Captain |
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Blake Harrison Russell and extend sincere sympathy to the members |
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of his family: to his wife, Bellinda Stine Russell; to his children, |
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Dylan and Haley Russell; to his mother, Janice Perkins; to his |
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father, Ron Russell, and his wife, Donna; to his sisters, Rhona |
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Jesperson and her husband, Bob, and Deidra Earle and her husband, |
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Andrew; to his grandmother, Mrs. L. C. Harrison; to his |
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mother-in-law, Helga Stine, and her husband, Paul Lager; to his |
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brother-in-law, Robb Stine, and his wife, Shannon; 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 Captain |
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Blake Harrison Russell. |