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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Basque Country is located in the northeastern |
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corner of the Iberian Peninsula, along the present-day border of |
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France and Spain, and the presence of Basques in the United States |
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can be traced back to the mid-19th century; around 1,400 combatants |
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of Basque origin have been identified as serving in the U.S. armed |
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forces during World War II, and their military, social, personal, |
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and family histories help illuminate the process of Basque |
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emigration and settlement in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas honors |
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the 14 identified veterans of Basque heritage who were born in Texas |
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or enlisted in the state, and it acknowledges the myriad |
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contributions of these valiant service members: |
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● U.S. Army Corporal Manuel Abascal, who served with the |
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45th Infantry Division in Europe and who passed away in 2000; |
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● U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Manuel Amestoy, who served with |
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the Headquarters and Service Company, V Amphibious Tractor |
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Battalion, in the Pacific theater and who passed away in 1987; |
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● U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Buldain, who served |
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with the 36th Infantry Division in Europe and who passed away in |
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1997; |
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● U.S. Army Air Force Lieutenant Louis Buldain, who |
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ultimately attained the rank of colonel during a three-decade |
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military career and who passed away in 2000; |
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● U.S. Army Corporal George Buldain, who enlisted in 1943 |
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and who passed away in 1996; |
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● U.S. Army Tech 4 Eugenio "Eugene" Echaniz, who enlisted in |
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1942 and who passed away in 2006; |
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● U.S. Army Sergeant Raul Echaniz, who served with the Third |
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Army under General George S. Patton and who passed away in 2011; |
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● U.S. Army Private Antonio "Tony" Garibay, who enlisted in |
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1946 and who passed away in 2014; |
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● U.S. Army Private Federico Bilbao, who enlisted in 1943 |
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and served until 1946; |
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● U.S. Army Air Force Sergeant Fernando Gil, who served with |
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the 802nd Bombardment Squadron in Mountain Home, Idaho, and who |
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passed away in 1967; |
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● U.S. Army Corporal Valentin Elola, who enlisted in 1943 |
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and who passed away in 1992; |
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● U.S. Army Air Force Sergeant Alfonso Garde, who served |
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with the 724th Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, in Europe and who passed |
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away in 1992; |
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● U.S. Army Corporal Calixto Ochotorena, who served with the |
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Transportation Corps and who passed away in 2007; and |
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● U.S. Army Private First Class Tony Uharriet, who enlisted |
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in 1946 and who passed away in 1982; and |
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WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas is a |
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special event taking place on March 2, 2023, hosted by the Sancho de |
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Beurko Association and the Voces Oral History Center at The |
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University of Texas at Austin in conjunction with Texas State |
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Representative Rafael Anchía; and |
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WHEREAS, This special presentation is a part of the |
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association's international research project Fighting Basques: |
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Memory of World War II, which is undertaken in collaboration with |
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North American Basque Organizations; the project studies the role |
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that Basques and Basque Americans played in the conflict; and |
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WHEREAS, Consisting of an academic panel, Immigrants in World |
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War II: Basques in Texas will focus on these individuals to |
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illustrate the contributions made by the migrant population of the |
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U.S. during the war; furthermore, the gathering celebrates these |
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Basque Texans, many of whom have received little public |
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recognition, as rightful members of the Greatest Generation; and |
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WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas |
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provides a vital opportunity to pay tribute to a deserving group of |
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military veterans while furthering the worthwhile goal of |
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establishing a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of |
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our nation's history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the Immigrants in World War II: |
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Basques in Texas event and honor the World War II veterans of Basque |
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origin who so bravely served our country; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the families of the Basque service members as well as |
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the Sancho de Beurko Association and the Voces Oral History Center |
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as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |