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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roy Perez Benavidez built |
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a distinguished military career that spanned nearly a quarter |
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century, and his bravery and self-sacrifice in the service of his |
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fellow Americans have become legendary; and |
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WHEREAS, The son of Salvador Benavidez and Teresa Perez, Roy |
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Benavidez was born in Lindenau on August 5, 1935; he answered his |
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nation's call to duty in 1952, enlisting in the Texas Army National |
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Guard, and three years later, he joined the U.S. Army; after |
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completing airborne training in 1959, he was assigned to the 82nd |
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Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; he went on to |
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join the elite Army Special Forces and became a member of the 5th |
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Special Forces and the Studies and Observations Groups; and |
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WHEREAS, Sergeant Benavidez was deployed to Southeast Asia in |
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1965 as an advisor to an infantry regiment in the Army of the |
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Republic of Vietnam; one day, while on patrol, he was seriously |
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injured when he stepped on a land mine, and he was subsequently |
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evacuated to the United States; though doctors believed he had |
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permanently lost the use of his legs, he remained determined to |
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continue his military service, and in July 1966, more than a year |
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after he was injured, he was able to walk out of the hospital; two |
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years later, he returned to South Vietnam; and |
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WHEREAS, On the morning of May 2, 1968, while assigned to |
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Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special |
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Forces, west of Loc Ninh, Sergeant Benavidez heard a distress call |
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from a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team that was pinned |
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down by a North Vietnamese Army battalion of about 1,000 soldiers; |
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he quickly volunteered to assist in an extraction attempt, and |
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after reaching the battle zone, he ran through withering enemy fire |
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to reach his comrades, sustaining multiple injuries; despite |
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agonizing pain, he loaded the wounded and dead members of the team |
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onto the aircraft, but then the pilot was killed and the helicopter |
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crashed; Sergeant Benavidez quickly called in tactical air strikes |
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and directed fire from supporting gunships, enabling another |
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extraction helicopter to land; over the course of the six-hour |
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fight, he received dozens of bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds, |
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and his valiant actions saved the lives of at least eight men and |
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prevented classified documents from falling into enemy hands; and |
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WHEREAS, In recognition of his heroism, Sergeant Benavidez |
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was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan on |
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February 24, 1981; this courageous Texan was also the recipient of |
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the Purple Heart with four oak-leaf clusters, the Defense |
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Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army |
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Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four |
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campaign stars; and |
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WHEREAS, After retiring with the rank of master sergeant in |
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1976, Roy Benavidez returned home to his wife, Hilaria, and their |
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three children in El Campo; during the ensuing years, he spoke often |
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at the invitation of schools, military and civic groups, and |
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businesses, and he wrote several books recounting his life |
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experiences, including The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez and Medal of |
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Honor: A Vietnam Warrior's Story; he passed away on November 29, |
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1998, at the age of 63; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering courage and devotion to |
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duty, Master Sergeant Benavidez exemplified the highest ideals of |
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the U.S. armed forces; his actions and accomplishments are an |
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inspiration to all Americans, and he is truly deserving of special |
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recognition for his notable contributions as a soldier and patriot; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roy P. |
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Benavidez and to his exceptional service in behalf of his nation. |
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Stephenson |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the House on April |
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6, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the Senate on |
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April 19, 2017, by a rising vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |