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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Forty-five years after demonstrating extraordinary |
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courage under fire, Donald J. Hamilton is at last receiving the |
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Bronze Star Medal he earned in 1966 during the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, On May 17 of that year, U.S. Army Specialist |
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Hamilton was serving as a medical aidman with Company A, 1st |
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Battalion (Airborne), 12th Cavalry, as part of a combat operation |
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in Vietnam; his unit and another company, outnumbered by the enemy |
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force, were pinned down by fire and sustained heavy casualties; and |
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WHEREAS, After several of his fellow medical aidmen were |
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wounded, Specialist Hamilton continued to treat injured soldiers |
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with no thought for his own safety, moving from one wounded man to |
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another despite extraordinary danger from enemy fire and requests |
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from his company commander to take cover; and |
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WHEREAS, Specialist Hamilton was subsequently notified that |
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he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for his heroism |
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and devotion to duty, but he never received the medal itself; now, |
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thanks to the efforts of his family, he will have tangible proof of |
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his distinction; and |
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WHEREAS, Exemplifying the highest ideals of the U.S. Armed |
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Forces, Donald Hamilton inspired others with his fortitude, |
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tenacity, and valor, and the Bronze Star Medal serves as an |
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important symbol of the nation's gratitude for his selfless actions |
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on that fateful day; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Donald J. Hamilton on his long |
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overdue receipt of the Bronze Star Medal and extend to him sincere |
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appreciation for his valiant military service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hamilton as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |