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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Colonel Robert Gosney of Bell County distinguished |
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himself throughout his exemplary 32-year career as an officer in |
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the United States Army, and he is indeed deserving of recognition |
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for his valiant service; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in 1931 and raised in Fort Worth, Colonel |
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Gosney graduated from Handley High School; his athletic prowess |
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earned him a football scholarship from Texas A&M University, where |
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he played guard and linebacker and where he was a member of the |
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Corps of Cadets; he received his degree in 1954 and with it, a |
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commission as a second lieutenant; and |
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WHEREAS, Colonel Gosney held assignments variously in field |
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artillery and in army aviation; a helicopter and fixed-wing pilot, |
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he served two tours of duty in Vietnam, and during his time there, |
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he commanded the 119 Assault Helicopter Company from 1966 to 1967 |
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and the 25th Infantry Division Aviation Battalion from 1969 to |
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1970; some 10 years later, while serving as chief of the U.S. |
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military mission in Monrovia, Liberia, he played an instrumental |
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role in reestablishing order when a coup d'etat toppled the |
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government; he retired at the rank of colonel at Fort Hood in 1985; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, For his courage and dedication, Colonel Gosney |
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became one of the most highly decorated soldiers of the Vietnam War; |
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over the course of his career, he was awarded two Distinguished |
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Service Medals, the Silver Star, three Legion of Merit medals, two |
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Distinguished Flying Cross medals, the Soldier's Medal, two Bronze |
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Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, and a total of 31 Air Medals, |
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two of them with Valor device; and |
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WHEREAS, After concluding his tenure in the armed forces, |
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Colonel Gosney retired to his home in Belton; this third-generation |
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Texan is a man of strong faith and a valued member of Christ the King |
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Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus; with more leisure now |
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at his disposal, he enjoys traveling with his wife of 65 years, and |
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he takes great pride in a family that has grown to include 8 |
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grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Robert Gosney has contributed to his country and to |
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his community through a lifetime of purposeful endeavor, and his |
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example of leadership, bravery, and honor continues to inspire all |
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those who are privileged to know him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Colonel Robert Gosney for his |
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exceptional efforts in our nation's behalf and extend to him |
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sincere best wishes for 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 Colonel Gosney as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |