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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 100th birthday of an esteemed Texan and World |
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War II veteran is indeed cause for celebration, and retired U.S. Air |
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Force Lieutenant Colonel George C. Carruthers of San Marcos marked |
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that special milestone on October 19, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, George Carruthers was born in Dallas in 1923, and he |
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graduated from high school in Tyler and studied at Tyler Junior |
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College; after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the |
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U.S. Army Air Corps and served with the 8th Air Force, 305th Bomb |
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Group, 422nd Bomb Squadron in England as a second lieutenant; and |
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WHEREAS, On July 14, 1943, Lieutenant Carruthers and his |
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B-17F Flying Fortress Windy City Challenger crew had completed a |
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bombing mission when their plane was attacked and crashed near |
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Lieusaint, France; seven crew members were killed, and Lieutenant |
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Carruthers and his fellow survivors were interrogated and sent to |
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the Stalag Luft III camp; in January 1945, Germany ordered its |
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evacuation, and prisoners of war were transferred to Stalag VII A; |
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the camp was liberated that same year; in 2010, the City of |
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Lieusaint dedicated a memorial to the Windy City Challenger crew of |
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which Lieutenant Carruthers is the last surviving member; and |
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WHEREAS, After the war, Lieutenant Carruthers fulfilled a |
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number of assignments, and he flew combat missions in Vietnam; he |
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retired in 1972 at the rank of lieutenant colonel, concluding a |
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distinguished career of three decades; his many awards include the |
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Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the World War II |
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Victory Medal, and in 2023, he was selected for the Order of the |
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Legion of Honor from France for his World War II service; in all his |
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endeavors, he has enjoyed the love and support of his wife, |
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Dr. Marilyn Gaddis; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of a century, George Carruthers has |
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not only bravely served his nation but has also met the challenges |
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and opportunities of a long life with grace and fortitude, and he is |
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blessed with the deep respect and lasting affection of a host of |
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loved ones; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate U.S. Air Force |
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(Ret.) Lieutenant Colonel George C. Carruthers on the joyous |
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occasion of his 100th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Carruthers as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |