H.R. No. 2342
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Words cannot adequately express the heartache felt
at the loss of United States Army Sergeant Samuel E. Kelsey of
Troup, who died in Iraq on December 13, 2007, at the age of 24; and
WHEREAS, A combat engineer, Sergeant Kelsey was assigned to
the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team,
3rd Infantry Division, and based at Fort Stewart, Georgia; he was
mortally wounded in Tunnis as he was trying to rescue another member
of his unit who had been felled by an explosion; and
WHEREAS, Sam Kelsey was born on June 28, 1983, and attended
elementary and junior high school in Winona before moving to Troup,
where he graduated from high school in 2001; his youth was filled
with such activities as Little League and fishing and was spent
among a wide circle of friends whom he considered family; and
WHEREAS, This courageous Texan joined the army in March 2003;
he was stationed for a time at Fort Leonard Wood and saw duty in
Korea before being posted to Fort Stewart in March 2007; the
following October, he was deployed on his second tour in Iraq; and
WHEREAS, From the time he was a boy, Sam Kelsey won the hearts
of all who knew him; his sunny, irrepressible nature as well as his
gift for friendship and his genuine concern for others have left his
loved ones with a rich legacy of cherished memories; as a soldier,
his pride in serving his country and his determination to protect
those under his command have also left a lasting impression; on
December 23, 2007, at the instigation of his commanding officer,
Patrol Base Kelsey was named in his honor; and
WHEREAS, Charged with a difficult mission, Sergeant Kelsey
responded with unfaltering courage, and his service and sacrifice
are deserving of honor by every American; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sergeant Samuel E.
Kelsey and extend sincere sympathy to his mother, Denina Kelsey,
and to his other relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the members of his family and that when the Texas House
of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Sergeant
Samuel E. Kelsey.
Hopson
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2342 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 21, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House