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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the heartache felt |
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at the loss of U.S. Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jose Luis Maldonado |
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of Mathis, who died while serving his country on December 17, 2010, |
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at the age of 21; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, |
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1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp |
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Pendleton, California, Lance Corporal Maldonado enlisted in the |
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Marine Corps in 2007 and was deployed to Afghanistan in September |
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2010; he was mortally wounded while supporting combat operations in |
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Helmand Province; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on January 24, 1989, in Brooks County, Jose |
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Maldonado attended elementary and junior high school in Baytown and |
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high school in Mathis; known for his athleticism, he was a star |
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football and baseball player and earned district honors in both |
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sports; he graduated from Mathis High School in 2007; three years |
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later, he married Jackie De La Garza, and the couple enjoyed a happy |
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and rewarding relationship; admired for his strength of character |
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and intelligence, Lance Corporal Maldonado was also caring, |
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playful, and protective of those he loved; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the many military honors he received were the |
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Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Combat Action |
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Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Afghanistan |
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Campaign Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and the Good |
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Conduct Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, Our state and nation are fortunate to have men and |
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women whose love of country inspires them to serve, yet the tragic |
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death of this brave young Texan is a sobering reminder of the cost |
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of war; Jose Maldonado exemplified the highest ideals of the U.S. |
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armed forces, and those who knew him will forever carry him close in |
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their hearts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Marine Corps |
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Lance Corporal Jose Luis Maldonado and extend deepest sympathy to |
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the members of his family: to his wife, Jackie De La Garza; to his |
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aunt and uncle, Alicia and George Williams; to his brothers, Eric |
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and Eddie Vera; to his sisters, Darlynna Mejia and Emily Vera; to |
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his nephew, Jaiden Mejia; to his cousins, Jessica Williams, |
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Stefanie Pena, and Juan Garcia; to his mother, Oralia Maldonado; to |
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his grandmothers, Ester Maldonado and Bertha Flores; and to his |
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other relatives and 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 Lance |
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Corporal Jose Maldonado. |