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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established |
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to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state |
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or federal military forces, and U.S. Army Sergeant Major Jerry L. |
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Bell of Leon County proved himself a deserving recipient of this |
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prestigious commendation through his heroic actions during the |
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Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Leon County and a fourth generation |
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Texan, Jerry Lynn Bell enlisted in the U.S. Army in Houston; after |
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distinguishing himself as a tank commander, he was assigned from |
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May 1969 to June 1970 as a non-aviator crew member with Troop B, 7th |
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Armored Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, in Vietnam; serving as an |
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observer on light observation helicopters that conducted |
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reconnaissance over hostile territory, he repeatedly demonstrated |
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his willingness to place himself in harm's way to protect his fellow |
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soldiers; and |
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WHEREAS, On February 25, 1970, Sergeant Bell took part in a |
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mission in which an accompanying helicopter was shot down, severely |
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injuring its crew; exposed to intense fire while his aircraft |
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advanced toward the crash site at treetop level, Sergeant Bell |
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suffered shrapnel wounds to his left arm and chest but kept the |
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enemy at bay by firing on their position with his machine gun; his |
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efforts provided cover to facilitate a rescue of the aviators in the |
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downed craft, and he also assisted by keeping his helicopter's |
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rotor clear of obstacles and tending to injured crew members on the |
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ground; after the wounded were evacuated for medical treatment, he |
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and the pilot returned to the combat zone and marked the enemy |
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fortifications so that they could be targeted by gunships, |
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artillery, and air strikes; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Bell took part in numerous other combat |
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missions during his 13 months with Troop B in Vietnam, and at one |
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point, he made 25 flights over a three-week period; his willingness |
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to go above and beyond the call of duty was recognized with numerous |
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commendations; in addition to the Purple Heart he received for his |
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shrapnel wounds, he was honored with the Distinguished Flying |
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Cross, the Army Commendation Medal, the Bronze Star with "V" |
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device, multiple Air Medals, the Vietnam Service Medal with four |
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bronze service stars, the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak |
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leaf cluster, and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with palm |
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ribbon; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedicated soldier ultimately completed 21 |
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years of active duty in the armed forces, attaining the rank of |
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sergeant major, and he was posted to Germany and Korea, among other |
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locations; his final duty station was at Fort Bliss in El Paso, |
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where he was the enlisted advisor to the 2nd Brigade, 49th Armored |
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Division, of the Texas National Guard; after retiring from the |
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military, he served as a postal carrier in Leon County, worked for a |
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construction company, operated a gun store, and successfully ran |
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for mayor of Leona; he passed away on January 10, 2021, at the age of |
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77, leaving behind his wife, Alice Bell, his four children, Jerry, |
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Harold, Kimberly, and Wendy, and many grandchildren and |
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great-grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, Jerry Bell distinguished himself through his acts of |
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extraordinary courage, patriotism, and selflessness on the |
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battlefield, and it is indeed fitting that he be honored with the |
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highest military award conferred by the State of Texas; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously |
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award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Jerry L. Bell in |
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recognition of his valiant service during the Vietnam War. |