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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, A life made rich through meaningful service drew to |
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a close with the passing of retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Jesus |
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San Nicolas Chargualaf on July 15, 2024, at the age of 81; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Rosa Crisostomo San Nicolas Chargualaf |
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and Jose San Nicolas Chargualaf, Jesse Chargualaf was born on the |
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island of Guam on August 2, 1942, while his mother was hiding in a |
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cave to evade Japanese forces; he grew up in a family that included |
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13 siblings, and he embarked on his three-decade military career in |
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1962 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; his determination to overcome all |
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barriers and his remarkable physical fitness set him apart and |
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earned him a place in the nation's first Green Beret unit, the 10th |
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Special Forces Group (Airborne); a linguist, ultra-long-distance |
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runner, and master parachutist with a black belt in karate, he took |
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part in intelligence operations in nearly 20 countries around the |
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globe; during the Vietnam War, he served as a primary contact |
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between villagers and U.S. forces, and he retained his kindness, |
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empathy, and playfulness no matter how dire the circumstances |
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around him; while stationed in Massachusetts, he volunteered at a |
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youth center and even mentored youngsters who had inadvisedly |
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attempted to mug him; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Chargualaf shared a fulfilling relationship |
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with his wife, Gay, and he was the proud father of a daughter, |
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Nicole, and a son, Jay; following his retirement from the military, |
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he was employed for 31 years as property manager for Cat Mountain |
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Villas in Austin; he had a tremendous work ethic and rarely took a |
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day off; in his free time, he grew vegetables and made friends at |
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the Deep Eddy Community Garden; he enjoyed swimming, fishing, |
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studying history, and playing chess and cards; delighting in his |
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role as "Olipop" to two grandchildren, Elizabeth and James, he |
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engaged them in games of tag and ensured they never lacked for |
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treats; and |
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WHEREAS, From his earliest years, Jesse Chargualaf |
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brightened the world for those around him, and although he is deeply |
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missed, his courage, compassion, and generosity remain a lasting |
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source of inspiration; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of retired U.S. Army |
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Sergeant Major Jesus San Nicolas Chargualaf and extend sincere |
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sympathy to the members of his family: to his wife, Gay Chargualaf; |
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to his children, Nicole McCarty and her husband, Tom, and Jay |
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Chargualaf; to his grandchildren, Elizabeth and James McCarty; and |
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to his other relatives and many friends; 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 adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Jesse |
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Chargualaf. |