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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The valiant military service of Michael John |
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Fitzmaurice 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, A veteran of the U.S. Army, Michael Fitzmaurice |
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served during the Vietnam War as a specialist fourth class with |
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Troop D, 2nd Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne |
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Division; while he was fighting at Khe Sanh, enemy combatants threw |
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explosive charges into his bunker; without regard for his own |
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safety, he hurled two of the charges out of the bunker and threw |
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himself and his flak vest over the remaining charge, shielding |
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three fellow soldiers from the blast; though seriously wounded and |
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experiencing partial vision loss, he charged out of the bunker and |
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engaged in hand-to-hand combat, selflessly continuing to protect |
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his comrades and refusing medical evacuation; and |
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating extraordinary courage in the line of |
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duty, Michael Fitzmaurice 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 John Fitzmaurice on the occasion of |
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the 2019 Medal of Honor Host City Weekend in Gainesville and commend |
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him for his exemplary service in the defense of our nation; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Fitzmaurice as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |