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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Staff Sergeant Marvin Rex Young and Private First |
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Class Alfred Mac Wilson, natives of Odessa, posthumously received |
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the Medal of Honor in recognition of their valiant actions in |
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defense of their country during the Vietnam War; and |
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WHEREAS, While serving in the U.S. Army, Rex Young's company |
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was engaged by a North Vietnamese force of overwhelming number on |
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August 21, 1968; Sergeant Young assumed command of Company C when |
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his platoon leader was killed, and he organized his men in a |
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defensive position against the enemy; upon receiving orders to |
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retreat, he remained to provide covering fire for his comrades; |
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observing that members of a section of the point squad were unable |
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to escape from their position, he immediately moved to their aid and |
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sustained a number of severe wounds, including a critical head |
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injury and shattered leg; he refused medical assistance and |
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continued to provide cover for his fellow soldiers as they |
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withdrew, until the enemy engulfed his position; and |
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WHEREAS, On March 3, 1969, Mac Wilson made the ultimate |
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sacrifice in the defense of his fellow marines when his platoon came |
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under fire by North Vietnamese forces; his squad's machine gunner |
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and assistant machine gunner were rendered incapacitated in the |
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ensuing firefight and unable to operate their weapon, and Private |
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Wilson and another marine moved through enemy fire to man the gun, |
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when an enemy soldier threw a grenade at them; Private Wilson killed |
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the combatant and, without hesitation, threw himself on the grenade |
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in order to protect his comrade; his body absorbed the full force of |
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the lethal blast, and his platoon members went on to attack and |
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defeat the opposing troops; and |
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WHEREAS, Known as the "City of Honor," Odessa has paid |
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tribute to these two fallen heroes with the dedication of Wilson & |
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Young Medal of Honor Middle School in 2015; both were alumni of the |
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Odessa school system, with Mr. Young earning his diploma from |
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Permian High in 1965 and Mr. Wilson graduating from Odessa High in |
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1967; and |
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WHEREAS, These Texans' inspiring actions on the battlefield |
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mark them as soldiers of extraordinary selflessness and valor, and |
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they are indeed deserving recipients of our nation's highest |
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military award; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the service of Medal of Honor recipients |
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Marvin Rex Young and Alfred Mac Wilson and pay tribute to their |
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enduring legacy in the city of Odessa. |