|
|
|
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, During the epic events of World War II, a |
|
15-year-old French citizen named Jean Hilfiger distinguished |
|
himself by helping United States troops to effect a crucial |
|
crossing of the Moselle River as they battled against the armed |
|
forces of Nazi Germany; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hilfiger grew up in a patriotic French family; |
|
his father fought with the French army during the war, and his |
|
mother helped form a maquis, a group of resistance fighters, to |
|
battle against the German occupation that began in 1940; and |
|
WHEREAS, When American forces advanced into eastern France in |
|
the fall of 1944, soldiers from the U.S. 36th Infantry Division |
|
called at Mr. Hilfiger's house and asked for a guide to take them to |
|
a vantage point above the Moselle to observe enemy positions along |
|
the opposite bank; though only a teenager, Jean Hilfiger |
|
volunteered for the job and successfully carried it out; afterward, |
|
American officers requested his assistance in finding a suitable |
|
place for their forces to ford the river; again, he agreed to help |
|
and was outfitted with a uniform and a rifle for the dangerous work |
|
ahead; and |
|
WHEREAS, Under cover of darkness, this brave young man guided |
|
a group of 10 soldiers through the farmlands near the river, risking |
|
attack from the Germans as they journeyed to the crossing point Mr. |
|
Hilfiger had selected; before dawn the next morning, he led the |
|
advance party across the river, assisting them in their efforts to |
|
establish a pontoon bridge to carry out their regiment's offensive; |
|
as daylight spread across the landscape, the group came under enemy |
|
machine gun fire and shelling, and he helped a badly wounded |
|
American to get back across the Moselle; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hilfiger's crossing at Noirgeux was well chosen, |
|
and the U.S. forces were able to quickly establish a bridgehead to |
|
begin moving their men and equipment across the river; their |
|
advance helped bring about the capture of the city of Remiremont |
|
several days later, which was another step on the path to the |
|
ultimate Allied victory in Europe; and |
|
WHEREAS, Always appreciative of the sacrifices that |
|
Americans made to help his country, Mr. Hilfiger is active in a |
|
"Friends of the 36th U.S. Infantry Division" organization that each |
|
year commemorates the river crossing and helps focus attention on |
|
the important events that transpired during the war; and |
|
WHEREAS, Jean Hilfiger had not yet reached adulthood when he |
|
was called into action to help liberate his homeland, yet he put his |
|
life on the line to achieve that goal without hesitation by |
|
assisting American soldiers, and his actions continue to resonate |
|
more than six decades later; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, Th |
|
at the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
hereby honor Jean Hilfiger for his courageous work in aiding U.S. |
|
military forces during World War II and extend to him sincere |
|
appreciation for his remarkable heroism; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Mr. Hilfiger as an expression of high regard by the |
|
Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |
|
|
Smithee |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.C.R. No. 164 was adopted by the House on May |
|
19, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
|
I certify that H.C.R. No. 164 was adopted by the Senate on May |
|
19, 2011, by a viva-voce vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
APPROVED: __________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
__________________ |
|
Governor |