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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Vernon Ollar of Kerr County is celebrating his 100th |
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birthday on July 26, 2021, and this joyous occasion provides a |
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fitting opportunity to recognize this esteemed member of the |
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Greatest Generation for his service during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Moline, Illinois, in 1921, Vern Ollar grew |
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up in neighboring Rock Island; he worked at an ordnance plant before |
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joining the United States Army in December 1942; after basic |
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training with the Chemical Warfare Service at Camp Sibert in |
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Alabama, he was stationed at Camp Polk in Louisiana, with the 81st |
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Chemical Mortar Battalion, and then went on mountain maneuvers at |
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Camp Pickens in Virginia; he was deployed to England aboard the |
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Capetown Castle, a converted British ocean liner, and following an |
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arduous journey, he trained for months in the frigid English |
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Channel in preparation for D-Day; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Ollar landed on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944, |
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with the 116th Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, in the first wave |
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of the attack; as a mortarman, he had to enter deep, icy water to |
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drag the weapons ashore while dodging enemy fire and anti-tank |
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mines; he was the gunner for his squad, which quickly took out a |
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machine gun nest; after securing the bluff tops, the division |
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advanced, and Mr. Ollar and his comrades had to seek food and |
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shelter at abandoned farmsteads; he took part in the bitter |
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fighting through hedgerows and proceeded across France and Belgium |
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to Germany; for his valor at Dillingen, he received a bronze star; |
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toward the end of the war, he was also involved in the development |
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of radar technology to detect the origin of incoming artillery |
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rounds; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, Vern Ollar has not only |
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bravely served his nation, but has also met the challenges and |
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opportunities of a long life with fortitude, earning the lasting |
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respect and admiration of all who are fortunate enough to know him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Vernon Ollar |
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on the occasion of his 100th birthday and honor him for his |
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patriotic service during World War II; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Ollar as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |