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