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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the heartache felt |
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at the death of U.S. Army First Lieutenant Phillip Isaac Neel of |
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Fredericksburg, who lost his life while bravely serving his country |
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in Iraq on April 8, 2007, at the age of 27; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, |
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3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, at Fort Hood, First Lieutenant |
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Neel sustained a mortal injury when his unit was attacked by enemy |
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forces near the city of Balad; and |
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WHEREAS, The second oldest of six children born to Leroy and |
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Kathy Neel, Phillip Neel graduated in 1998 from Fredericksburg High |
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School, where he was a member of the cross-country team and a |
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student in the "Principles of Technology" rocket program; he went |
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on to complete two years of service in the U.S. Army, during which |
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time he served as an Airborne unit paratrooper in Kosovo and |
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advanced to the rank of specialist; with his sights set on becoming |
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a commissioned officer, he received an appointment to the U.S. |
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Military Academy at West Point and was commissioned as a second |
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lieutenant in 2005; he was deployed to Iraq in October 2006; and |
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WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Neel was the recipient of numerous |
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military decorations, including the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, |
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the Army Achievement Medal, the Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze |
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Star, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service |
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Medal, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Parachute Badge; and |
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WHEREAS, Widely admired for his leadership, his devotion to |
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his faith, and his unfailing integrity, Phillip Neel especially |
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inspired his five siblings, who often looked to him for guidance |
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when they faced challenges; he was deeply committed to serving his |
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country and carrying on the legacy of his father, a retired |
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lieutenant colonel, while he also dreamt of someday practicing law |
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and living in a small town; moreover, he was a talented parachute |
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athlete and had performed in several national competitions with the |
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West Point Parachute Team; and |
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WHEREAS, First Lieutenant Neel embodied the highest |
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standards of the United States armed forces, and his valiant |
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efforts and immense sacrifice are deserving of the respect and |
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appreciation of every American; although his loss has left a |
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tremendous void in the lives of all who knew him, they will forever |
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treasure the memory of his heroic and patriotic service; now, |
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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 First Lieutenant |
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Phillip Isaac Neel and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his parents, Colonel (Ret.) Leroy Neel and Kathy Neel; to |
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his siblings, Kelly Foster and Jesse, Oliver, Erin, and Joe Neel; to |
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his grandmother, Katherine Lewis; and to his other relatives and |
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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 First |
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Lieutenant Phillip Isaac Neel. |