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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ray Eric Santos of Clear Lake has served our |
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nation with great distinction as a member of the United States Navy |
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and Navy Reserve, and he contributes significantly to his community |
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as a medical practitioner; and |
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WHEREAS, A board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Santos |
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graduated from the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center |
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School of Medicine in 1986 and completed an orthopedic residency |
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program at The University of Texas Medical Branch Hospitals in |
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1991; he went on to participate in a one-year fellowship in spine |
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surgery in San Antonio and joined the National Naval Medical Center |
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in Bethesda, Maryland, on active duty as chief of spine surgery; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Santos transferred to the navy reserve in 1995 |
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and became an assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at The |
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University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; for three years, |
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he served with the 4th Air Naval Gunfire and Liaison Company of the |
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U.S. Marine Corps Reserve in West Palm Beach, Florida, and he |
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completed airborne training and graduated with distinction from the |
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navy's diving medical officer course; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1998, Dr. Santos established a private practice |
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in Clear Lake, but he continued to play a vital role in the reserve; |
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he was the undersea medical officer for NR Naval Special Warfare |
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Unit Two, based in Colts Neck, New Jersey, and subsequently the |
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battalion surgeon for the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion of the |
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marine corps in San Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Operation Iraqi Freedom occasioned a recall to |
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active duty in February 2003, and Dr. Santos deployed to Iraq as |
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battalion surgeon for the 2nd Battalion, 23rd Marines, which |
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participated in combat operations as part of the 1st Marine |
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Expeditionary Force; he resumed his practice the following |
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September and continued to serve in the navy reserve as the |
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battalion surgeon for the 4th Reconnaissance Battalion and for the |
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4th Amphibious Assault Battalion of the marine corps in Tampa; and |
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WHEREAS, In October 2010, while assigned to the 1st |
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Battalion, 23rd Marines, as the battalion surgeon and officer in |
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charge of the naval detachment, Dr. Santos was again recalled to |
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active duty; he deployed for seven months to Helmand Province in |
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Afghanistan, where his battalion was involved in combat operations |
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in support of Operation Enduring Freedom under Regional Command |
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Southwest, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force; Dr. Santos coordinated |
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the medical care for more than 800 marines and sailors and was |
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involved in supporting medical care throughout the Task Force |
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Belleau Wood area of operations; and |
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WHEREAS, During his tour of duty in Afghanistan, this |
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courageous Texan participated in more than 20 classified missions |
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in remote locations; once, when a Marine in his convoy was |
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critically injured by an improvised explosive device, Dr. Santos |
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left his own vehicle and bravely crossed over 50 meters of terrain |
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not yet cleared of secondary IEDs in order to perform lifesaving |
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field surgery; he further advanced American goals by helping to |
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improve relations with local Afghans, who were grateful for the |
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skilled treatment he provided to the ailing granddaughter of an |
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influential village elder; and |
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WHEREAS, For his meritorious achievements in Afghanistan, |
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Dr. Santos was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal; his numerous |
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decorations also include the Navy Achievement Medal, Combat Action |
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Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, three Navy Meritorious Unit |
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Commendations, and two National Defense Service Medals; and |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Ray Santos has set an inspiring example for |
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others through his selfless devotion to his country and to the |
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highest ideals of the medical profession, and it is indeed fitting |
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that he be recognized at this time; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Dr. Ray Eric Santos for his exceptional |
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service to the United States Navy and Navy Reserve and commend him |
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for his professional contributions to his community; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Dr. Santos as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |