Tennessee 2025-2026 Regular Session

Tennessee House Bill HJR0674 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	<BillNo> <Sponsor>
3	3
4	4	HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 674
5	5	By Butler
6	6
7	7
8	8	HJR0674
9	9	007814
10	10	- 1 -
11	11
12	12	A RESOLUTION commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of the
13	13	end of the Vietnam War.
14	14
15	15	WHEREAS, it is fitting that this General Assembly should commemorate those solemn
16	16	events in our nation's history that recognize the sacrifices made by our veterans on behalf of
17	17	their fellow Americans; and
18	18	WHEREAS, May 7, 2025, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War;
19	19	and
20	20	WHEREAS, Tennessee has always treasured her veterans and their many contributions
21	21	to our continued liberty, safety, and welfare, and thus it comes as no surprise that in 2008, the
22	22	Volunteer State became the first state in the nation to pass legislation observing Vietnam
23	23	Veterans Day; and
24	24	WHEREAS, the United States first became involved in Vietnam on November 1, 1955,
25	25	when President Dwight D. Eisenhower committed military advisors to educate and train the
26	26	Army of the Republic of Vietnam, actions that marked the official beginning of American
27	27	involvement in the Vietnam War; and
28	28	WHEREAS, Specialist 4 James T. "Tom" Davis, a native of Livingston, was the first
29	29	American soldier killed in ground combat during the Vietnam War. Serving with the U.S. Army
30	30	Security Agency's 3
31	31	rd
32	32	Radio Research Unit, Specialist 4 Davis was engaged in a mission to
33	33	locate enemy radio transmitters when his convoy was ambushed by Viet Cong forces on
34	34	December 22, 1961, near Saigon; his bravery and ultimate sacrifice marked a significant
35	35	moment in the early stages of American involvement in Vietnam; and
36	36	WHEREAS, in recognition of his service and sacrifice, the U.S. Army named the 3
37	37	rd
38	38
39	39	Radio Research Unit's headquarters at Tan Son Nhut Air Base "Davis Station" in his honor.
40	40
41	41
42	42	- 2 - 007814
43	43
44	44	President Lyndon B. Johnson later referred to Tom Davis as "the first American to fall in defense
45	45	of our freedom in Vietnam," underscoring the profound impact of his contribution to our nation's
46	46	history; and
47	47	WHEREAS, on January 12, 1962, United States Army pilots lifted more than 1,000
48	48	South Vietnamese service members over jungle and underbrush to capture a National
49	49	Liberation Front stronghold near Saigon. Operation Chopper marked America's first combat
50	50	mission against the Viet Cong and the beginning of one of our longest and most challenging
51	51	wars; and
52	52	WHEREAS, through more than a decade of conflict that tested the fabric of our nation,
53	53	the service of our men and women in uniform stood true. More than sixty years after that fateful
54	54	mission, we honor the Americans who served, pay tribute to those we have laid to rest, and
55	55	reaffirm our dedication to showing a generation of veterans the respect and support of a grateful
56	56	nation; and
57	57	WHEREAS, the Vietnam War is a story of service members of different backgrounds,
58	58	colors, and creeds who came together to complete a daunting mission; it is a story of patriots
59	59	who braved the line of fire, who cast themselves into harm's way to save a friend, and who
60	60	fought hour after hour, day after day, to preserve the liberties we hold dear while upholding the
61	61	highest traditions of our Armed Forces; and
62	62	WHEREAS, 9,087,000 personnel served from August 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975, and
63	63	2,709,918 personnel served on the ground in Vietnam; two-thirds of those who served were
64	64	volunteers and not drafted, and 11,000 women served in Vietnam in various roles, including
65	65	nursing, the Red Cross, and other military roles; and
66	66	WHEREAS, more than 2.5 million personnel served in the Republic of South Vietnam,
67	67	including 1,736,000 in the Army, 391,000 in the Marines, 174,000 in the Navy and Coast Guard,
68	68	and 293,000 in the Air Force; and
69	69
70	70
71	71	- 3 - 007814
72	72
73	73	WHEREAS, there are 6.6 million Vietnam War veterans still living, and one in every
74	74	three males over the age of sixty-five is a Vietnam War veteran; the second-largest Vietnam
75	75	Veterans of America Chapter in the nation is in Chattanooga, which has more than 1,000
76	76	members; and
77	77	WHEREAS, half a century after the official end of the Vietnam War on May 7, 1975, we
78	78	pay tribute to the fallen, the missing, the wounded, the millions who served, and the millions
79	79	more who awaited their return. Our nation stands stronger for their service, and we honor their
80	80	proud legacy with our deepest gratitude; now, therefore,
81	81	BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
82	82	FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
83	83	CONCURRING, that as we commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Vietnam
84	84	War, we honor and commend our nation's Vietnam War veterans, thank them for their service to
85	85	this great nation, and extend to them our best wishes for every continued success and
86	86	happiness.
87	87	BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an appropriate copy of this resolution be prepared
88	88	for presentation with this final clause omitted from such copy and upon proper request made to
89	89	the appropriate clerk, the language appearing immediately following the State seal appear
90	90	without House or Senate designation.
91	91