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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, United States Army Sergeant Gilberto Lopez Sanchez |
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of New Braunfels made the ultimate sacrifice in behalf of his |
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country during the Korean War, in the ferocious Battle of the Chosin |
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Reservoir; and |
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WHEREAS, One of eight brothers to serve in the United States |
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military, Sergeant Sanchez was born to Bernardino and Coleta |
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Sanchez in Comal County on October 21, 1931; trained as an army |
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medic, he was assigned to the Medical Company, 32nd Infantry |
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Regiment, 7th Infantry Division, which was deployed east of the |
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Chosin Reservoir in November 1950 as part of the 31st Regimental |
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Combat Team; on the night of November 27-28, 1950, RCT-31, known |
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historically as Task Force Faith, was attacked by vastly larger |
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numbers of enemy forces; the fighting continued for some two weeks, |
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with the task force suffering grievous losses; on December 2, 1950, |
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Sergeant Sanchez, who had been treating the wounded, was reported |
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as missing in action, and on December 31, 1953, he was listed as |
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presumed dead; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, the family of Sergeant Sanchez |
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continued to search for information as to his fate; his remains have |
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now been recovered and have been identified through DNA, and he is |
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being laid to rest with full military honors on January 23, 2015, at |
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Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Sanchez was the recipient of the Purple |
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Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service |
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Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the Korean Presidential |
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Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal; he was |
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also awarded the Combat Medical Badge; and |
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WHEREAS, Unwavering in his devotion to duty, honor, and this |
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country, Sergeant Gilberto Sanchez embodied the highest ideals of |
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the United States armed forces, and his fellow citizens mourn the |
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death of a courageous soldier and patriot whose life was a blessing |
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to all who were privileged to share in his love and friendship; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor the memory of U.S. Army Sergeant Gilberto Sanchez and |
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extend to his family sincere sympathy for his loss and profound |
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gratitude for his valiant service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House |
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of Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory |
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of U.S. Army Sergeant Gilberto Lopez Sanchez. |