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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, U.S. Army Sergeant (Ret.) Santiago Jesse Erevia |
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distinguished himself through his heroic action in Vietnam on May |
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21, 1969, and for his exceptional valor that day, he has been |
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awarded the Medal of Honor; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Nordheim, Santiago Erevia was born in |
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1946 and came of age during the Vietnam War; he enlisted in the army |
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at the age of 22 and served in that conflict as a radio-telephone |
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operator with the 101st Airborne Division; and |
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WHEREAS, During a search-and-clear mission near Tam Ky, |
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Vietnam, the platoon leader assigned then-Specialist Four Erevia |
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the task of staying behind to administer first aid to a number of |
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injured soldiers while the rest of the unit continued on; as |
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Specialist Erevia did so, he came under hostile fire from four |
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bunkers to his left front; rather than take cover, this courageous |
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Texan crawled in full view of his attackers to gather ammunition |
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from his wounded compatriots; he then charged directly at the |
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bunkers and dispatched the enemy combatants, saving the lives of |
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the men in his care; his valiant actions in the face of overwhelming |
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odds was a source of inspiration for his entire company and |
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contributed greatly to the completion of their mission; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to receiving the Medal of Honor on March |
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18, 2014, Sergeant Erevia has been recognized with the Bronze Star |
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Medal, the Purple Heart, the Air Medal, the Army Commendation |
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Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service |
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Medal with five bronze service stars; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Erevia left active duty in 1970 but went on |
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to serve another 17 years as a member of the Texas National Guard; |
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now a retired postal service worker, he lives with his wife in San |
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Antonio and is the father of four grown children; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unhesitating selflessness and his |
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unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and his country, Sergeant |
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Santiago Erevia has embodied the highest ideals of the U.S. armed |
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forces, and he is deserving of the deep and lasting gratitude of |
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every American; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Sergeant Santiago Jesse Erevia on |
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his receipt of the Medal of Honor and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Sergeant Erevia as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |