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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The family and friends of United States Army Staff |
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Sergeant Eric Thomas Duckworth sustained a heavy loss with the |
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death of this courageous soldier in Iraq on October 10, 2007, at the |
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age of 26; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 759th Military Police Battalion, |
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89th Military Police Brigade, and based at Fort Carson, Colorado, |
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Sergeant Duckworth deployed to Iraq in August 2006 for a 15-month |
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tour of duty, during which he worked to train Iraqi police; he was |
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mortally wounded while leading a convoy in the city of Baghdad; and |
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WHEREAS, Eric Duckworth was born in Dallas on October 30, |
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1980, and grew up in Plano, where he played youth baseball and |
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football; he attended Plano East High School during his senior year |
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and graduated from Clear Lake High School in Houston in 1999; from |
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the time he was a boy, Sergeant Duckworth aspired to serve in both |
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the military and in law enforcement, and he got an early start on |
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his career path in high school as a stellar member of the Army |
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JROTC; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Duckworth enlisted in the armed forces at |
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the age of 18 and served initially in the infantry; during his eight |
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years in the military, he excelled at his work and won the deep |
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respect of his commanding officers and comrades for his consummate |
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professionalism, his even temperament and composure under stress, |
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and his unfailing readiness to lend a helping hand; admired for his |
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outstanding qualities as a soldier, he was no less treasured for the |
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warmth of his heart, his gift for friendship, and his cheerful, |
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infectious smile; and |
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WHEREAS, A passionate sports fan, Sergeant Duckworth was a |
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keen NASCAR enthusiast and yielded to no one in his devotion to the |
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Dallas Cowboys; and |
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WHEREAS, Above all, Eric Duckworth loved his wife, Sonya, his |
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stepdaughter, Kaylynn, and his children, Madison and Michael; and |
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WHEREAS, In his dedication to duty, honor, and this country, |
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Sergeant Eric Duckworth exemplified the highest ideals of the |
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United States armed forces, and those who were blessed to share in |
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the richness of his life will forever carry him close in their |
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hearts; now, 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 Staff Sergeant Eric |
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Thomas Duckworth and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his |
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family: to his wife, Sonya Lynn Duckworth; to his children, Kaylynn |
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Cox and Madison and Michael Duckworth; to his mother, Ila |
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Duckworth; to his father and stepmother, Michael and Barbara |
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Duckworth; to his brother, Andrew Duckworth; 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 U.S. Army |
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Staff Sergeant Eric Thomas Duckworth. |