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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Specialist |
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Marquis J. McCants of San Antonio suffered an immeasurable loss |
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with the death of this valiant paratrooper in Iraq on May 18, 2007, |
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at the age of 23; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned as a combat medic to the 1st Battalion, |
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325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd |
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Airborne Division, based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Specialist |
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McCants was killed when his unit was attacked with an improvised |
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explosive device in Baghdad; and |
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WHEREAS, "Marq" McCants was born in Abilene on August 4, |
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1983, to Savage and Belinda McCants; he graduated from O'Connor |
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High School, where he made many friends, and worked in retail before |
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joining the Army in 2005; a talented songwriter, he hoped to earn a |
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degree in music and eventually start a hip-hop production company, |
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but he always put his family first and was deeply devoted to his |
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wife and three children; and |
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WHEREAS, After basic combat training in Fort Leonard Wood, |
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Missouri, Specialist McCants went on to complete combat medic |
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advanced individual training at Fort Sam Houston; he reported to |
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the 82nd Airborne Division in May 2006 and was assigned to 1st |
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Battalion, 325th Airborne as a trauma specialist; a dedicated and |
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respected professional, he provided lifesaving care to fellow |
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soldiers and to Iraqi citizens; he continued to study his medical |
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books late into the night and was eager to expand his knowledge; and |
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WHEREAS, His commanding officers held Specialist McCants in |
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the highest regard, and he received numerous military honors, |
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including a Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Badge, |
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the Combat Medical Badge, and the Parachutist Badge; generous and |
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kind, he was always ready to help his fellow soldiers, who called |
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him "Doc," and he raised the spirits of others with his ready grin |
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and lively sense of humor; he loved to talk about music, but his |
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favorite topic of conversation was his beloved family; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired by all who were privileged to know him, |
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Marquis McCants was a courageous American and an exemplary husband |
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and father, and the State of Texas and the nation mourn the loss of a |
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hero who made the ultimate sacrifice in behalf of his country; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Specialist |
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Marquis McCants and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Andrea McCants; to his children, Azaria and |
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Micah McCants and Deja Martinez; to his parents, Savage and Belinda |
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McCants; to his brothers, Savage McCants III and Isaiah McCants; to |
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his sisters, Patrice Williams, Lisa Basch, and Brandi McCants; to |
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his mother-in-law, Patricia Patten, and her husband, Derrick; and |
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to his other 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 Marquis |
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McCants. |