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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established |
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to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state |
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or federal military forces, and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew |
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E. Mendoza proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious |
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honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Born on April 22, 1984, Matthew Mendoza grew up |
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playing football and became a popular athlete at Highlands High |
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School, where he was a linebacker and running back for the football |
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team; he also enjoyed coaching in the local Pop Warner league; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2004, Mr. Mendoza answered his nation's call to |
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duty during time of war and became the third generation of his |
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family to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps; he completed two tours of |
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duty in Iraq before shipping out to Afghanistan in 2008 with the 2nd |
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Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine |
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Expeditionary Force, out of Twentynine Palms, California, in |
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support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed squad leader for 1st Platoon, Company E, |
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on April 8, 2008, Sergeant Mendoza led more than 40 combat patrols |
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in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province, one of the most |
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dangerous regions in Afghanistan; as the leader of his unit's |
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advance party, he dedicated countless hours to evaluating the |
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platoon's area of operations, to ensure that his fellow marines |
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would understand the battlefield; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 19, 2008, Sergeant Mendoza and his squad |
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were conducting a mounted patrol along Highway 1 when they came |
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under small arms fire; he and his men left their vehicle and engaged |
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the enemy, eliminating the threat and preventing any casualties |
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among the coalition forces and the surrounding civilian population; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The following day, Sergeant Mendoza ordered some of |
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his squad to remain behind in the staging area while he, his Afghan |
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interpreter, and three other men advanced on foot through difficult |
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terrain that would not accommodate their vehicle; a few moments |
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later, the sergeant and his interpreter were killed by a suicide |
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bomber, and the other three men were injured; by putting himself in |
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the lead, he once again prevented the enemy from killing more |
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American soldiers; and |
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WHEREAS, Admired by his men for always leading from the |
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front, Matthew Mendoza repeatedly risked his life to protect the |
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lives of his fellow marines; for his actions on June 19, he was |
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posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout his military career, Matthew Mendoza |
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embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps with his |
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initiative, perseverance, and devotion to duty, and for his |
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conspicuous bravery and his final sacrifice, he is truly deserving |
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of this state's supreme military award; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously |
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award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Matthew E. Mendoza in |
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recognition of his valiant service during Operation Enduring |
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Freedom. |