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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The valiant military service of Robert E. O'Malley |
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is being saluted as part of the 2019 Medal of Honor Host City |
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Weekend in Gainesville; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 2001, Gainesville's Medal of Honor |
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Host City Program acknowledges the heroism and sacrifice of |
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individuals who have earned the Medal of Honor, the nation's |
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highest military award for valor; each year, local citizens join |
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together to fund travel costs and other expenses to bring medal |
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recipients to the city for a special series of events; and |
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WHEREAS, Robert O'Malley served during the Vietnam War as a |
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sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, assigned to Company 1, 3rd |
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Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division; while he led |
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his squad against an entrenched enemy force, they encountered |
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intense small-arms fire; casting aside all concern for his personal |
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safety, he raced across an open rice paddy, jumped into the enemy |
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trench, and used his rifle and grenades to kill eight attackers; he |
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then led his squad to assist an adjacent unit that was suffering |
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heavy casualties and helped evacuate several wounded marines before |
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returning to the scene of the worst fighting; when he was ordered to |
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an evacuation point, he guided his squad under fire to a helicopter; |
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he was wounded three times but remained in an exposed position to |
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provide cover to others as they boarded, refusing to withdraw until |
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the last of his men were evacuated; and |
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating extraordinary courage in the line of |
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duty, Robert O'Malley fulfilled the highest ideals of the United |
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States armed forces, and he has earned the lasting admiration of a |
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grateful nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to Robert E. O'Malley on the occasion of the 2019 |
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Medal of Honor Host City Weekend in Gainesville and commend him for |
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his exemplary service in the defense of our nation; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. O'Malley as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |