|
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
WHEREAS, Joe Hernandez of Pampa was presented a Bronze Star |
|
on March 12, 2013, in recognition of his courageous service as a |
|
member of the United States Army in World War II; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Hernandez graduated from Pampa High School in |
|
May 1944 and, answering his country's call to duty, enlisted in the |
|
United States Army that September; after 12 weeks of training in |
|
Mineral Wells, he was sent to the front lines in Europe, where |
|
Allied forces had just pushed back a massive German offensive in the |
|
Battle of the Bulge; and |
|
WHEREAS, In February 1945, Mr. Hernandez joined the 78th |
|
Division in Schmidt, Germany, near the Belgian border; as the |
|
Allies pushed ever deeper into Germany from the west, he and his |
|
unit marched up to 20 miles a day; during their advance, Mr. |
|
Hernandez sustained multiple injuries from mortar shrapnel in the |
|
course of a firefight with German troops; he was sent to Paris to |
|
recuperate, but after just three weeks he returned to the front; |
|
following the end of the war in Europe, he remained in Germany for a |
|
time on occupation duty; and |
|
WHEREAS, For his intrepid service, Mr. Hernandez was awarded |
|
the Combat Infantry Badge, a decoration that made him eligible for |
|
the Bronze Star; he is also the recipient of the Purple Heart, the |
|
Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign |
|
Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Army of Occupation of |
|
Germany and Japan Medal; and |
|
WHEREAS, After his discharge from the military, this esteemed |
|
veteran returned home, married, and raised a family; he worked for |
|
the railroad and then spent 27 years as a mail carrier with the |
|
postal service before his retirement; and |
|
WHEREAS, Joe Hernandez exemplifies the selflessness and |
|
courage of those who fought for this country during the most |
|
far-reaching conflict in world history, and his fellow citizens owe |
|
him a profound and lasting debt of gratitude; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
|
Legislature hereby honor Joe Hernandez on his receipt of the Bronze |
|
Star and extend to him sincere appreciation for his steadfast |
|
patriotism and service; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
prepared for Mr. Hernandez as an expression of high regard by the |
|
Texas House of Representatives. |
|
|
King of Hemphill |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 1260 was adopted by the House on April |
|
17, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|