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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Leon Abrusley served his country bravely during |
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World War II as a seaman first class in the United States Navy; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Abrusley was born into a family of Syrian |
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immigrants in Oakdale, Louisiana, on August 12, 1924; on December |
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23, 1941, 16 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he answered his |
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nation's call to duty and enlisted in the navy, at the age of 17; and |
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WHEREAS, Seaman Abrusley was assigned to a destroyer in the |
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Pacific theater, the USS Henley; during an engagement off the coast |
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of New Guinea on October 3, 1943, the Henley was sunk by Japanese |
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torpedoes; Seaman Abrusley was one of only 243 survivors who made it |
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into the life rafts; and |
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WHEREAS, Adrift in the sea in the pouring rain, Seaman |
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Abrusley thought of the oil derricks he'd seen while passing |
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through Kilgore, Texas, and promised himself he'd survive to return |
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there and work in the oil fields; eventually he was rescued by |
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another U.S. destroyer, the USS Reid; and |
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WHEREAS, After recovering from his ordeal, Seaman Abrusley |
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joined the crew of the USS Pritchett on January 15, 1944, and |
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remained with that ship until the end of the war; during his service |
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with the Pritchett, he saw duty in the waters off Saipan, Guam, the |
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Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa; the Pritchett sustained several |
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kamikaze hits by Japanese planes over the course of that period, |
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and in July 1945, it rescued crew members of the USS Callaghan, |
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after that ship was sunk; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his discharge from the service, Mr. |
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Abrusley earned a degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana |
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State University, which led to a successful 30-year career with |
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Skelly Oil in Carthage, Texas, not far from Kilgore; he later |
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retired with his family to Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Leon Abrusley is a distinguished member of that |
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proud generation of brave Americans who stepped forward to defend |
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their country during one of its darkest hours, and his courage and |
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perseverance in the face of great danger have earned him the lasting |
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gratitude of his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Leon Abrusley for his service to the |
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nation during World War II and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Abrusley as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |