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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Fort Hood is celebrating its 75th anniversary in |
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2017, and this is a fitting opportunity to pay tribute to the base's |
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significant role in the history of our state and nation; and |
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WHEREAS, In January 1942, only weeks after the Japanese |
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attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Army announced that it was |
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establishing a tank destroyer tactical and firing center near |
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Killeen, and on April 2, 1942, the 893rd Tank Destroyer Battalion |
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under the command of General Andrew D. Bruce arrived from Fort |
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Meade, Maryland; named after Confederate Army General John Bell |
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Hood, Camp Hood was officially opened on September 18, 1942; and |
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WHEREAS, During World War II, Camp Hood's mission expanded to |
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include basic training; nearly 100,000 soldiers trained for combat |
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there, and in the later years of the war, approximately 4,000 German |
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prisoners were interned at the camp; in 1950, it was renamed Fort |
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Hood, and permanent buildings began to be constructed; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 1961, Fort Hood has been home to the U.S. Army |
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III Corps, and its current roster includes the 1st Cavalry Division |
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and 1st Army Division West; units from Fort Hood have deployed to |
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every major conflict since World War II, including Korea, Vietnam, |
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Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Afghanistan, and Iraq; it also |
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supports homeland security as the antiterror training ground for |
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Army Reserve and National Guard units; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, the "Great Place" has grown from its original |
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108,000 acres to nearly 218,000 acres across the rolling hills of |
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Central Texas; it serves a population of 400,000, including active |
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duty troops, family members, civilian employees, defense |
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contractors, retirees, and survivors of fallen soldiers, and it |
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generates a statewide economic impact of $35.4 billion every year; |
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it is the largest active duty armored post in the nation's military, |
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home not only to members of the cavalry and the infantry, but to |
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tanker personnel, engineers, mechanics, health care professionals, |
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and workers in other disciplines; and |
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WHEREAS, For three-quarters of a century, Fort Hood has |
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played an integral part in the defense of our nation and in the |
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culture and economy of the Lone Star State, and the men and women of |
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Fort Hood may indeed take great pride in their myriad contributions |
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as they celebrate this special occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 75th anniversary of Fort Hood and extend to |
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everyone associated with the base sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in their important work. |