H.R. No. 2318
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Private Alan
Jerome Austin, of Houston, suffered a great loss with his death on
August 12, 2007, at the age of 21, while on duty in Afghanistan; and
WHEREAS, This outstanding soldier was assigned to the 782nd
Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne
Division, and was based at Fort Bragg, North Carolina; he deployed
with his unit to Afghanistan in support of NATO's International
Security Assistance Force in January 2007, and he was mortally
injured in a Humvee accident near Forward Operating Base Sharana in
Paktika Province; and
WHEREAS, Raised in Houston, Alan Austin graduated in 2004
from the Girls and Boys Preparatory Academy; after receiving his
diploma, he attended culinary school for a year and then worked as a
security guard before joining the army in March 2006; and
WHEREAS, Private Austin was proud to serve his country and
intended to reenlist; a highly focused young man who had a zest for
life and for learning, he had his sights set on attending advanced
airborne school and becoming a noncommissioned officer; his plans
also included studying psychology and obtaining a college degree;
and
WHEREAS, Part of a close-knit, loving family, Private Austin
assumed the role of protector early in life; his upright character,
compassionate nature, and brilliant smile endeared him to a host of
friends and gave promise of a bright future; typical of his
determination to make a positive difference in the world was the
hard work he put in helping victims of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina;
in his free time, he enjoyed not only cooking but also dancing and
writing poetry and short stories, and he loved parades and mariachi
music; and
WHEREAS, Among the numerous military awards conferred on
Private Austin were the Meritorious Service Medal, Army
Commendation Medal, and Army Achievement Medal, as well as the Army
Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan
Campaign Medal, and Combat Action Badge; and
WHEREAS, Alan Austin represented this country and its armed
forces with courage and honor, and those who were blessed to share
in his love and affection will forever hold him close in their
hearts; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Private Alan Jerome
Austin and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his family: to
his mother, Rhonda Austin; to his brother, Matthew McDaniel; to his
grandfather, Sidney Austin, Jr.; to his father, James Earl Carter,
Jr.; and to his other relatives and many friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Private
Alan Jerome Austin.
Turner of Harris
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2318 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House