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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of decorated Vietnam War veteran Clarence |
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Eugene Sasser of Sandy Point on May 13, 2024, at the age of 76; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Willie Sasser Jr. and Alice Brown, |
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Clarence Sasser was born in Chenango on September 2, 1947; he was |
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raised by his mother and stepfather on a farm in Rosharon, where he |
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grew up with his siblings and stepsiblings; after graduating from |
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Marshall High School in 1965, he began studying chemistry at the |
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University of Houston; he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967, |
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and he served in Vietnam as a medic with the 3rd Battalion, 60th |
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Infantry, 9th Infantry Division; and |
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WHEREAS, On January 10, 1968, Private First Class Sasser was |
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participating in a reconnaissance mission when enemies attacked his |
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unit, killing more than 30 U.S. service members in the first few |
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minutes; Private Sasser ran through a hail of bullets to help his |
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injured comrades, and he continued to provide treatment even after |
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being severely wounded; once the group had crawled to a safer area, |
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he tended to the survivors for five hours before they were all |
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evacuated; he recovered from his injuries in Japan, and he later |
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accepted an assignment there; along the way, he rose to the rank of |
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specialist fifth class; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his courageous actions during the |
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Vietnam War, Specialist Sasser was presented with the Medal of |
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Honor by President Richard M. Nixon during a White House ceremony on |
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March 7, 1969; his other military honors included the Distinguished |
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Service Cross, Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, |
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Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sasser returned to civilian life in June 1969 |
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and continued his chemistry studies at Texas A&M University before |
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accepting a position at a petrochemical refinery near Houston; he |
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went on to enjoy a rewarding career as a decision review officer |
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with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and |
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WHEREAS, Active in his community, Mr. Sasser was president of |
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the Northwest Brazoria County Servicemen's Association and a member |
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of New St. Philip Missionary Baptist Church; among his many |
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achievements, he was inducted into the Texas A&M Hall of Honor in |
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2013 and was awarded an honorary doctor of letters degree from the |
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university; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Sasser shared a fulfilling marriage with his |
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wife, Ethel, that spanned many years before her passing, and he took |
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great pride in their three sons, Benjamin Sasser and Rossano |
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Dickey, who preceded their father in death, and Billy Sasser; and |
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WHEREAS, Clarence Sasser exemplified the highest ideals of |
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the U.S. armed forces, and he leaves behind a record of service to |
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his country that will continue to inspire all those who knew him; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of Clarence Eugene Sasser and extend |
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heartfelt sympathy to his loved ones; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of |
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Clarence Sasser. |