H.R. No. 2515
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Specialist
Rodney Jerome Johnson of Houston suffered an incalculable loss with
the death of this valiant soldier on September 4, 2007, at the age
of 20; and
WHEREAS, Assigned as a cavalry scout to the 1st Squadron, 4th
Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry
Division based in Fort Riley, Kansas, Specialist Johnson was
mortally wounded when insurgents attacked his unit in Baghdad,
Iraq; and
WHEREAS, Specialist Johnson was the son of Rodney Johnson,
Sr., and Charlotte Johnson; he graduated from Hastings High School
and joined the army in September 2005, a few months before his
wedding to the former Ashley Cavazos; he began serving with the 1st
Infantry Division in March 2006 and was deployed to Iraq the
following February; and
WHEREAS, A devoted husband and father, Specialist Johnson
cared deeply about his daughter, Ja'Aliyah Johnson, and wrote
moving letters to his beloved wife; he was looking forward to the
birth of their second child, Nysiah, with great anticipation; and
WHEREAS, Our state and nation are fortunate to have young men
and women whose love of country leads them to military duty, and
time can never diminish the profound debt that Americans owe to
Specialist Johnson for the service he undertook and the sacrifice
he rendered; and
WHEREAS, Through his selfless devotion to duty, honor, and
his country, Rodney Johnson embodied the highest ideals of the
armed services, and his memory will be forever treasured by those
who shared in the blessing of his life; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Specialist Rodney
Jerome Johnson and extend sincere sympathy to the members of his
family: to his wife, Ashley Johnson; to his children, Ja'Aliyah and
Nysiah; to his father, Rodney J. Johnson, Sr.; to his mother,
Charlotte S. Johnson; to his sister, Marci Johnson; to his
brothers, Andrew Whitson and Markis Mitchell; and to his other
relatives and 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 U.S. Army
Specialist Rodney Jerome Johnson.
Edwards
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2515 was unanimously adopted by a
rising vote of the House on May 24, 2009.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House