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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The soldiers of Company E of the Texas National |
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Guard exhibited great courage during World War II, and they are |
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truly deserving of special recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, In November 1940, the federal government mobilized |
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the Texas National Guard, and Company E was activated as part of the |
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2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division; in |
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an era of segregation, Company E was the only unit in the guard to be |
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made up entirely of Mexican American soldiers, though led by white |
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officers; of the more than 170 men in the company, 84 were from El |
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Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, America entered the war in December 1941, and in |
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September 1943, Company E and the 36th Division were among the first |
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Allied soldiers to fight in Europe, when they came ashore on the |
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beaches of Salerno, Italy; Company E took part in some of the |
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fiercest fighting along the Italian peninsula, at the battles at |
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San Pietro, Naples, and Anzio, and in January 1944, they arrived at |
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the banks of the Rapido River near Monte Cassino; and |
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WHEREAS, A reconnaissance team from Company E discovered that |
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the Germans on the far side of the river were heavily fortified, and |
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the men of the company then took part in a brutal battle on the night |
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of January 20; risking drowning and hypothermia as they entered the |
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swift, freezing waters of the river, they were driven back on their |
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first attempt; courageously, they reentered the water, and a few |
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men broke through the enemy's barbed wire, allowing the Allied |
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forces to continue their march toward Rome; and |
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WHEREAS, Company E continued to fight bravely through |
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northern Italy and into France and Austria at great personal cost, |
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and only a handful of the company's members returned to El Paso at |
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the end of the war; as one veteran said about the battle at the |
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Rapido River, "If you did not die, or get wounded, or get captured, |
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you were not there"; and |
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WHEREAS, At a time when Mexican Americans were often |
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discriminated against at home, the proud men of Company E answered |
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their nation's call to arms; many of them gave their lives, and the |
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legacy of their valor and devotion to duty will continue to inspire |
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generations of Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the men of Company E of the Texas |
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National Guard for their courage and sacrifice during World War II. |