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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of World War II Veterans Capitol Day |
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on May 11, 2023, provides an opportunity to honor brave members of |
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the Greatest Generation for their selfless service; and |
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WHEREAS, On December 7, 1941, the United States was drawn |
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into the most devastating and consequential conflict in human |
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history; then-Texas Governor Coke R. Stevenson predicted that |
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Texans would rise proudly to the challenge of defending their |
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country, and he was proved correct by the long lines of volunteers |
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waiting eagerly to enlist at recruiting centers around the state; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Although Texas in that era had but five percent of |
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the nation's population, the state provided seven percent of armed |
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forces personnel; by the end of the war, 750,000 Texans, including |
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12,000 women, had contributed to victory over enemy forces; the |
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majority of these service members were in the U.S. Army and the Army |
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Air Force, but nearly a quarter served in other branches; over |
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22,000 Texans made the ultimate sacrifice, a third of this number in |
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the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps., or Coast Guard; Texas A&M University |
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alone produced more officers than both of the extant military |
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academies together; and |
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WHEREAS, Individual Texans fought with great valor in all the |
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theaters of the war, and 33 were awarded the Medal of Honor; one |
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such honoree, Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy of Farmersville, was the |
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most highly decorated American of the Second World War; another |
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honoree, Private First Class Silvestre S. Herrera of El Paso, was |
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injured in a fight that led to the capture of eight enemy soldiers; |
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more than 150 generals and 12 admirals were either natives or |
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residents of Texas, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General |
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Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Denison native who was stationed at Fort Sam |
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Houston when the war began; Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed |
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Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, |
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Pacific Ocean Areas following the attack on Pearl Harbor, was born |
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in Fredericksburg and descended from a pioneer Texas German family; |
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other Texans who served with particular distinction include Women's |
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Army Corp. Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, who also served as a |
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parliamentarian in this chamber, Navy cook Doris "Dorie" Miller of |
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Waco, Marine parachuter Harlan Block, Major General Claire |
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Chennault of Commerce, and Major General James Earl Rudder of Eden, |
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among many others who we honor today; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the National World War II Museum, as of |
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2022, 8,200 World War II veterans were living in Texas, the |
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fifth-highest number of all states in the U.S.; they represent 0.6 |
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percent of the state's total veteran population of approximately |
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1,400,000; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by a deep sense of patriotism, love for |
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freedom, and opposition to tyranny everywhere, the veterans of |
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World War II answered their nation's call to duty, and it is indeed |
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fitting to express our enduring respect and admiration for their |
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courage and immeasurable fortitude; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 11, 2023, as World War II Veterans |
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Capitol Day and encourage all residents of the Lone Star State to |
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learn more about the incomparable contributions of the Greatest |
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Generation. |