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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, U.S. Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanic rendered |
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exceptional service to his country as a member of the USS Vulcan |
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crew during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Galveston, Mr. Urbanic served as an |
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opticalman petty officer 3rd class on the USS Vulcan; his |
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responsibilities aboard the ship included repairing binoculars, |
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telescopes, and such navigation equipment as sextants and azimuth |
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bearing circles; and |
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WHEREAS, In fall 1962, Petty Officer Urbanic had been aboard |
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the vessel for six weeks before the October outbreak of the Cuban |
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Missile Crisis, a major confrontation that brought the United |
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States and the Soviet Union dangerously close to war over the |
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presence of Soviet nuclear-armed ballistic missiles on the island |
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of Cuba; on October 22, President John F. Kennedy ordered a naval |
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quarantine in an effort to keep Soviet ships from delivering more |
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weapons to Cuba; the Vulcan was deployed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, |
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where Petty Officer Urbanic and his crewmates provided essential |
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repair, electronics, and support services to the American ships |
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forming a quarantine ring blockade around Cuba; the strategy proved |
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successful, and the Vulcan returned home to Norfolk, Virginia, on |
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November 30, following its 23-day mission in the Caribbean; and |
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WHEREAS, Years later, Petty Officer Urbanic was honored |
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during a ceremony in League City, where he was presented with the |
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Texas Cold War Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, as well |
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as the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, which recognized his |
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participation in the Cuban blockade; and |
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating exemplary skill and dedication, Simon |
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Urbanic upheld the highest ideals of the United States military, |
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and his fellow citizens owe him a lasting debt of gratitude; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commend U.S. Navy Petty Officer Simon Urbanic for his |
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exceptional service during the Cuban Missile Crisis and extend to |
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him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Urbanic as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas Senate. |