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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The valiant military service of Michael Edwin |
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Thornton is being saluted as part of the 2019 Medal of Honor Host |
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City 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, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Michael Thornton earned his |
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Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War, when he was one of two U.S. |
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Navy advisors to a three-man Vietnamese Navy SEAL team during a raid |
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on an enemy base along a river; after the senior U.S. Navy advisor |
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was badly wounded, PO Thornton returned to him under heavy fire, |
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killed two enemy soldiers, and dragged his comrade to the river, |
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where he then inflated the wounded man's life jacket and towed him |
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through the water for two hours until they were rescued; and |
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating extraordinary courage in the line of |
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duty, Michael Edwin Thornton fulfilled the highest ideals of the |
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United States armed forces, and he has earned the lasting |
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admiration of a 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 Michael Edwin Thornton on the occasion of the |
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2019 Medal of Honor Host City Weekend in Gainesville and commend him |
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for 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. Thornton as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |