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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 334
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In Memory |
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of |
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Frank C. Stecklein |
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas joins the citizens |
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of San Antonio in mourning the loss of Frank C. Stecklein, who died |
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January 8, 2013, three months before his 100th birthday; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Kansas in March of 1913, this exemplary |
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patriot committed the better part of his life to military and |
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civil service; after his graduation from military academy in |
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1932, he joined the United States Army Horse Cavalry, and he |
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reenlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941; and |
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WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Stecklein served valiantly in the |
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Pacific theater, which saw some of the most ferocious fighting in |
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World War II; he and other soldiers from the Detached Services of |
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General MacArthur's headquarters in the Philippines became |
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Japanese prisoners of war in May of 1942; as a captive over the |
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next three years, he performed hard labor on the island of Luzon |
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and survived brutal beatings as a forced worker in the coal mines |
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of Japan; and |
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WHEREAS, His indomitable spirit sustained him through |
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these ordeals; after months of rehabilitation, Mr. Stecklein |
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reenlisted in the United States Air Force; he was recalled to |
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Tokyo in 1947 as a witness in war crimes trials, and in 1949, he |
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went through Intelligence training before being transferred to |
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Germany to interview German prisoners of war; he was later |
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stationed in South America; after retiring in 1962, he served in |
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the Civil Service until 1972; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Stecklein received numerous military honors, |
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including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart; he was a life |
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member of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and a proud |
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supporter of the American Legion and the Moose Lodge; and |
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WHEREAS, An extraordinary gentleman and a loving family |
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man, Mr. Stecklein did not let the hardships of his military |
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career overshadow the pleasures in life; he was an intrepid |
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traveler and adventurer, and he embraced new experiences |
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throughout his life; he took accordion lessons during his time in |
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Germany, played the trumpet, and learned to speak Spanish before |
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being posted to Paraguay and visiting every country in South |
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America; and |
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WHEREAS, From the age of 13, he sang in church choir each |
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year, and he continued that tradition by singing at Christmas |
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mass at the age of 99, alongside his beloved wife, Judy; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd |
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Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved |
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family of Frank C. Stecklein; 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 Frank Stecklein. |
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Uresti, Van de Putte |
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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 4, 2013, 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 |