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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, During the epic events of World War II, a |
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15-year-old French citizen named Jean Hilfiger distinguished |
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himself by helping United States troops to effect a crucial |
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crossing of the Moselle River as they battled against the armed |
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forces of Nazi Germany; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hilfiger grew up in a patriotic French family; |
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his father fought with the French army during the war, and his |
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mother helped form a maquis, a group of resistance fighters, to |
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battle against the German occupation that began in 1940; and |
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WHEREAS, When American forces advanced into eastern France in |
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the fall of 1944, soldiers from the U.S. 36th Infantry Division |
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called at Mr. Hilfiger's house and asked for a guide to take them to |
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a vantage point above the Moselle to observe enemy positions along |
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the opposite bank; though only a teenager, Jean Hilfiger |
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volunteered for the job and successfully carried it out; afterward, |
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American officers requested his assistance in finding a suitable |
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place for their forces to ford the river; again, he agreed to help |
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and was outfitted with a uniform and a rifle for the dangerous work |
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ahead; and |
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WHEREAS, Under cover of darkness, this brave young man guided |
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a group of 10 soldiers through the farmlands near the river, risking |
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attack from the Germans as they journeyed to the crossing point Mr. |
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Hilfiger had selected; before dawn the next morning, he led the |
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advance party across the river, assisting them in their efforts to |
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establish a pontoon bridge to carry out their regiment's offensive; |
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as daylight spread across the landscape, the group came under enemy |
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machine gun fire and shelling, and he helped a badly wounded |
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American to get back across the Moselle; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hilfiger's crossing at Noirgeux was well chosen, |
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and the U.S. forces were able to quickly establish a bridgehead to |
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begin moving their men and equipment across the river; their |
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advance helped bring about the capture of the city of Remiremont |
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several days later, which was another step on the path to the |
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ultimate Allied victory in Europe; and |
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WHEREAS, Always appreciative of the sacrifices that |
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Americans made to help his country, Mr. Hilfiger is active in a |
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"Friends of the 36th U.S. Infantry Division" organization that each |
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year commemorates the river crossing and helps focus attention on |
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the important events that transpired during the war; and |
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WHEREAS, Jean Hilfiger had not yet reached adulthood when he |
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was called into action to help liberate his homeland, yet he put his |
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life on the line to achieve that goal without hesitation by |
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assisting American soldiers, and his actions continue to resonate |
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more than six decades later; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor Jean Hilfiger on his courageous work in aiding U.S. |
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military forces during World War II and extend to him sincere |
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appreciation for his remarkable heroism; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hilfiger as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |