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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 545
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In Memory |
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of |
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Homer D. Smith, Jr. |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas honors and |
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commemorates the life of Major General Homer D. Smith, Jr., who |
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died March 6, 2011, at the age of 89; and |
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WHEREAS, General Smith served the nation with honor and |
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distinction in the United States Army for 36 years in an |
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illustrious career that saw him save the lives of thousands of |
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orphans and oversee the evacuation of Saigon at the conclusion of |
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the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, Homer D. Smith, Jr., was born February 16, 1922, |
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in Breckenridge; he grew up in Ranger and graduated from Ranger |
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High School before going on to graduate from Texas A&M University |
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in 1943; he was commissioned into the United States Army and |
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served in the European theater during World War II, helping to |
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plan the logistics for the D-Day invasion; and |
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WHEREAS, Following the war, he returned to civilian life |
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for a short time before reentering military service in 1948; he |
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rose steadily through the ranks and became a respected authority |
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in logistical planning while serving in posts throughout the |
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world, including Germany, Korea, and Italy; and |
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WHEREAS, General Smith was assigned to Saigon in 1974 as |
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Defense Attaché to the United States Embassy; during his time in |
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Vietnam, he organized Operation Baby-Lift, which evacuated some |
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2,000 orphans from the country, and managed Operation Frequent |
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Wind, the final evacuation of more than 7,000 American civilians, |
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military personnel, and Vietnamese nationals as the North |
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Vietnamese closed in on Saigon; and |
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WHEREAS, General Smith went on to serve as commander of the |
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United States Army Logistics Center and as head of the Logistics |
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Directorate at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty |
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Organization in Brussels, Belgium; over the course of his |
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exemplary career, he was awarded numerous medals and citations, |
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including the Distinguished Service medal with two Oak Leaf |
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Clusters, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, and the Army |
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Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; and |
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WHEREAS, A man of courage, strength, and compassion, he |
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served the nation with integrity and wisdom, and his generous |
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spirit and devotion to duty will not be forgotten by those who |
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were privileged to share in his life; and |
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WHEREAS, He was a devoted husband and father, and he leaves |
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behind memories that will be treasured forever by his family and |
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many friends; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Homer D. Smith, Jr.; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas |
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Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in |
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memory of Major General Homer D. Smith, Jr. |
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Van de Putte, Uresti, |
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Wentworth, Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 16, 2011, by a |
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rising vote. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |