| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 1780 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The valiant Americans who fought for this country |
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| 6 | 6 | | during the crucial years of World War II are deserving of the |
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| 7 | 7 | | highest respect, and Juan Provencio of El Paso was among those who |
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| 8 | 8 | | endured the grim dangers of war to preserve his nation's freedom; |
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| 9 | 9 | | and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Though scenes of the destructive reality of war |
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| 11 | 11 | | remain etched in his memory, Mr. Provencio may take great pride in |
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| 12 | 12 | | his contributions and those of fellow aviators who flew in the |
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| 13 | 13 | | legendary B-17 bomber; he recorded 25 combat missions in Europe |
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| 14 | 14 | | during World War II as a pilot or copilot aboard the "Flying |
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| 15 | 15 | | Fortress"; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, At 88 years of age, Mr. Provencio recalls momentous |
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| 17 | 17 | | wartime aviation events with 38 former military and commercial |
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| 18 | 18 | | airline pilots in the Maj. Gen. Franklin A. Nichols Flight 24 |
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| 19 | 19 | | Daedalians, a national fraternity of aviators that honors the |
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| 20 | 20 | | legacy of the nation's first and subsequent pilots who flew in its |
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| 21 | 21 | | defense; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Provencio flew aircraft with the Eighth Air |
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| 23 | 23 | | Force in England, including major bombing operations over Berlin; |
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| 24 | 24 | | he was privileged to be acquainted with many historic and prominent |
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| 25 | 25 | | military figures of World War II, like General James H. "Jimmy" |
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| 26 | 26 | | Doolittle, who led the first carrier-based bomber attack on |
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| 27 | 27 | | mainland Japan in 1942; he was an aide to General Curtis E. LeMay, |
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| 28 | 28 | | who is credited with developing key defensive formations used by |
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| 29 | 29 | | B-l7s during missions over occupied Europe; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Growing up in El Paso's Sunset Heights, Mr. |
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| 31 | 31 | | Provencio has deep roots in his West Texas community; he retired |
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| 32 | 32 | | from the military in 1972 after a distinguished 30-year career and |
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| 33 | 33 | | returned to his West Side home; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Juan Provencio performed his duty with honor when |
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| 35 | 35 | | the fate of freedom was in the balance, and his personal heroism and |
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| 36 | 36 | | sacrifice during the dark days of war were instrumental in |
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| 37 | 37 | | defending liberty and securing peace; now, therefore, be it |
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| 38 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 39 | 39 | | Legislature hereby commend Juan Provencio for his courageous |
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| 40 | 40 | | service to his country during World War II and extend to him sincere |
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| 41 | 41 | | best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 43 | 43 | | prepared for Mr. Provencio as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 44 | 44 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 45 | 45 | | Marquez |
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| 46 | 46 | | ______________________________ |
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| 47 | 47 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 48 | 48 | | I certify that H.R. No. 1780 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 49 | 49 | | 11, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 50 | 50 | | ______________________________ |
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| 51 | 51 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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