85R21284 JGH-D
 
  By: Dean H.C.R. No. 122
 
 
 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
         WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established
  to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state
  or federal military forces, and U.S. Army Master Sergeant Travis E.
  Watkins proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious
  award for his heroism during the Korean War; and
         WHEREAS, Born in Waldo, Arkansas, Travis Watkins grew up in
  Troup, Texas; answering his nation's call to duty, he enlisted in
  the U.S. Army in 1939, and he served with distinction in the Pacific
  theater during World War II, earning the Bronze Star for his actions
  at Guadalcanal; after the war, he was honorably discharged, and in
  1948, he married Madie Sue Barnett; the couple became the parents of
  two daughters; and
         WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Master Sergeant Watkins
  reenlisted, and he was deployed to Korea with Company H, Ninth
  Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division; on August 31, 1950,
  the company was stationed near Yongsan when an overwhelming North
  Korean force broke through the United Nations lines, and Sergeant
  Watkins and 30 other men found themselves under siege and cut off
  from the rest of their unit; and
         WHEREAS, Over the next three days, Sergeant Watkins displayed
  both remarkable leadership and extraordinary bravery; he took
  command, established perimeter defenses to repel the constant enemy
  assaults, and continually exposed himself to enemy fire by moving
  from foxhole to foxhole to give instructions and encouragement to
  his fellow soldiers; and
         WHEREAS, When the unit's ammunition began to run out,
  Sergeant Watkins shot two North Korean soldiers 50 yards beyond the
  perimeter and went out alone to retrieve their weapons and
  ammunition; he was wounded while doing so, but still managed to fell
  all three of his enemy attackers; he collected their weapons and
  ammunition as well and made it back to his astonished men; and
         WHEREAS, Later, six of the enemy began to lob grenades into
  the American perimeter, endangering the position; Sergeant Watkins
  stood up from his foxhole and fired his rifle at the attackers; he
  was immediately struck by machine gun fire, but he continued
  shooting until he had killed all six North Koreans; he then
  collapsed, paralyzed from the waist down; and
         WHEREAS, Despite his grave injuries, Sergeant Watkins
  continued to encourage his men, refusing to accept any food from
  their dwindling supply; when it became clear that help would not
  arrive in time, he ordered his men to withdraw, and he further
  refused to let them take him with them, since his inability to walk
  would only slow their retreat; in the last moments of his life, he
  wished his comrades luck and remained at his post until the end; he
  died two days before his 30th birthday; and
         WHEREAS, Sergeant Watkins's leadership throughout this
  ordeal helped to keep his men alive and enabled his troops to mount
  a strong defense that killed approximately 500 enemy soldiers; in
  recognition of his monumental courage, President Harry S. Truman
  posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest
  military award; the medal was presented to his wife in a ceremony in
  Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1951; and
         WHEREAS, In the years since, Sergeant Watkins has been
  further honored in the state he called home; a housing complex at
  Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio was named in his memory in 1961, and
  the Watkins-Logan State Veterans Home in Tyler was also named in his
  honor in 2011; in 2000 a supply ship, the USNS Watkins, was
  christened in his name; his remains are interred at Gladewater
  Memorial Park in Gladewater; and
         WHEREAS, During a desperate situation in a time of war,
  Master Sergeant Travis Watkins took command, bolstered the spirits
  of his men, and repeatedly risked his life in their behalf, making
  the ultimate sacrifice in order that they might survive; for this
  selfless act of heroism, it is indeed appropriate that he be honored
  with this state's supreme military commendation; now, therefore, be
  it
         RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
  hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously
  award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Travis E. Watkins in
  recognition of his valiant service during the Korean War.