H.R. No. 732
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Leon Abrusley served his country bravely during
World War II as a seaman first class in the United States Navy; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Abrusley was born into a family of Syrian
immigrants in Oakdale, Louisiana, on August 12, 1924; on December
23, 1941, 16 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he answered his
nation's call to duty and enlisted in the navy, at the age of 17; and
WHEREAS, Seaman Abrusley was assigned to a destroyer in the
Pacific theater, the USS Henley; during an engagement off the coast
of New Guinea on October 3, 1943, the Henley was sunk by Japanese
torpedoes; Seaman Abrusley was one of only 243 survivors who made it
into the life rafts; and
WHEREAS, Adrift in the sea in the pouring rain, Seaman
Abrusley thought of the oil derricks he'd seen while passing
through Kilgore, Texas, and promised himself he'd survive to return
there and work in the oil fields; eventually he was rescued by
another U.S. destroyer, the USS Reid; and
WHEREAS, After recovering from his ordeal, Seaman Abrusley
joined the crew of the USS Pritchett on January 15, 1944, and
remained with that ship until the end of the war; during his service
with the Pritchett, he saw duty in the waters off Saipan, Guam, the
Philippines, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa; the Pritchett sustained several
kamikaze hits by Japanese planes over the course of that period,
and in July 1945, it rescued crew members of the USS Callaghan,
after that ship was sunk; and
WHEREAS, Following his discharge from the service, Mr.
Abrusley earned a degree in petroleum engineering from Louisiana
State University, which led to a successful 30-year career with
Skelly Oil in Carthage, Texas, not far from Kilgore; he later
retired with his family to Houston; and
WHEREAS, Leon Abrusley is a distinguished member of that
proud generation of brave Americans who stepped forward to defend
their country during one of its darkest hours, and his courage and
perseverance in the face of great danger have earned him the lasting
gratitude of his fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby commend Leon Abrusley for his service to the
nation during World War II and extend to him sincere best wishes for
continued success and happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Abrusley as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Bohac
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 732 was adopted by the House on March
19, 2009, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House