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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Sergeant Mario |
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M. Rodriguez, Jr., of Smithville suffered an immeasurable loss with |
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the death of this valiant soldier on June 11, 2010, at the age of 24; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 264th Clearance Company, 27th |
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Engineer Battalion, Sergeant Rodriguez was mortally wounded while |
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his unit was conducting a dismounted route clearance in Powrak, |
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Logar Province, Afghanistan, and came under enemy attack; and |
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WHEREAS, Mario Rodriguez grew up in Smithville and attended |
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Smithville High School, where he was a linebacker on the football |
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team and demonstrated natural leadership ability; in 2003, he |
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enlisted with the Texas National Guard, and he served his first tour |
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of duty in Kosovo; he was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and was promoted |
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to sergeant shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan; his |
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exemplary actions were recognized with many decorations, including |
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the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and four |
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Army Achievement Medals; and |
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WHEREAS, A kind and caring man, Sergeant Rodriguez |
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consistently put the needs of others before his own; he was an |
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outstanding mentor to his comrades, and he was selflessly devoted |
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to his wife, Leslie, and their daughter, Raven; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Rodriguez exemplified the highest ideals |
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of the United States armed forces, and although his passing leaves a |
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void in the lives of his loved ones, they will forever carry |
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memories of this heroic young man close in their hearts; now, |
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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 Sergeant Mario M. |
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Rodriguez, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of |
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his family: to his wife, Leslie Marie Rodriguez; to his daughter, |
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Raven Marie George; to his mother, Rita Carmen Alcaraz; to his |
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father, Mario M. Rodriguez, Sr.; to his brothers and sisters; and to |
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his many 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 Mario |
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Rodriguez, Jr. |