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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On January 11, 2023, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) |
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John Footman of Harker Heights was officially awarded the Bronze |
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Star Medal with Valor Device and the Purple Heart in a pinning |
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ceremony at Fort Hood; the presentation came 52 years after he |
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received the commendations in a more informal manner during his |
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second tour of combat duty in the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, Born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, |
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Mr. Footman was drafted for military service in 1967; eager to |
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serve his country, he undertook training in Georgia and Louisiana |
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before being sent to Vietnam for the first time in 1968; during that |
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tour of duty, he was awarded his first Purple Heart medal after |
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being wounded in the leg by enemy fire; he was subsequently posted |
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to Germany, and in 1970 he valiantly volunteered to return to the |
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war in Southeast Asia; and |
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WHEREAS, During his second tour of duty, Mr. Footman fought |
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with the 4th and 5th Infantry Divisions; demonstrating exceptional |
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leadership and courage, he earned his Bronze Star Medal with Valor |
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Device after capturing enemy equipment and intelligence documents |
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and discovering a weapons cache; he was seriously wounded when his |
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personnel carrier struck a land mine, and though he was initially |
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told that he wouldn't walk again, he defied the doctors' prognoses |
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and was able to regain the use of his legs several weeks after he was |
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hospitalized; in recognition of his heroic service during both of |
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his combat tours, he was ultimately awarded two Bronze Stars and two |
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Purple Hearts as well as three Army Commendation Medals; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Footman remained a member of the military until |
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retiring in 1987, and he has continued to serve his fellow service |
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members in myriad ways; a member of Disabled American Veterans and |
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Veterans of Foreign Wars, he plays a vital role in helping |
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active-duty soldiers and veterans receive the assistance they need |
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in transitioning to civilian life, and he has been honored for his |
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community service as part of the Congressional Veteran Commendation |
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program; moreover, he is a past commander for the Harker Heights |
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chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the Military |
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Order of the Purple Heart Department of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering bravery and devotion to |
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duty, John Footman has long exemplified the highest ideals of the |
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U.S. armed forces, and it is indeed a pleasure to congratulate him |
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on his official receipt of these prestigious military honors; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate U.S. Army Staff Sergeant (Ret.) |
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John Footman for his official receipt of the Bronze Star Medal with |
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Valor Device and the Purple Heart and commend him for his |
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exceptional service in behalf of his nation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Footman as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |