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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Charles C. Stidham of Arlington served this country |
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courageously as a private in the United States Army during World War |
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II; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Rotan on April 24, 1923, Mr. Stidham |
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attended school in Round Rock; he joined the military in June 1942 |
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and drove heavy trucks for the 78th Infantry Lightning Division, |
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Cannon Company, 309th Infantry while stationed in Central Europe, |
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western Germany, and northern France; two years after enlisting, he |
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took part in the Normandy Invasion, which opened the long-awaited |
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"Second Front" against Hitler's forces; and |
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WHEREAS, This patriotic Texan earned his Combat Infantryman |
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Badge and received a number of decorations, including the American |
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Theater Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern |
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Campaign Medal, the Victory Ribbon, and Overseas Service Bars; and |
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WHEREAS, Following demobilization at the end of 1944, |
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Mr. Stidham returned to Texas, where he was employed as a truck |
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driver and iron worker; over the years, he also served as a crossing |
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guard at a local school and as a deacon of Bible Baptist Church; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stidham has shared a fulfilling marriage of 68 |
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years with his wife, Helen Rust Stidham, with whom he has seven |
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children; a devoted father, he raised them to have strong Christian |
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values, and today he considers his three sons, Roy, Charles, and |
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Patrick Stidham, and his four daughters, Myrna Baker, Helen Baxter, |
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Janet Auld, and Lura Puryear, to be his greatest accomplishment; in |
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addition, his fine family includes 21 grandchildren and 29 |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Charles Stidham exemplifies the valor and |
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resilience of that proud generation of Americans who stepped |
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forward to defend their country during one of its darkest hours, and |
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he has indeed earned the lasting gratitude of his fellow citizens; |
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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 Charles C. Stidham for his service to the |
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nation during World War II and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Stidham as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |