SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1172
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to
recognize Fred Chase, Sr., who served his country with honor and
distinction during World War II and the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, Fred Chase, Sr., was born September 9, 1925, in
Lytle, Texas, to Maria Vasquez and Vincent Chase; as the Great
Depression began to unfold, he learned from his parents at an
early age to be productive and stay strong in spirit; and
WHEREAS, At the age of 17, Fred Chase joined the United
States Navy to fight in World War II; he served in the Pacific
theater as a coxswain and achieved the rank of petty officer
third class; he was a helmsman responsible for piloting landing
craft during the amphibious assaults on the Japanese-occupied
islands of Tarawa, Guam, Saipan, Guadalcanal, and Iwo Jima, famous
for the raising of the United States flag atop Mount Suribachi; and
WHEREAS, He began working at Lone Star Gas Company in 1947,
and he volunteered to join the Marine Corps Reserve in 1949 and
was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict; he attained
the rank of staff sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1951;
he later went on to serve in the Texas Army National Guard Reserve
with the rank of master sergeant in the 249th Tank Battalion; and
WHEREAS, In August of 1947, he married Frances Yllegas of
San Antonio; the couple resided in Fort Worth and in Arlington
and raised three children, Robert Chase, Fred Chase, Jr., and
Irene Chase; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Chase had a successful 38-year career with
Lone Star Gas Company; he rose through the company ranks to
become the first Hispanic superintendent of the greater Fort
Worth area before retiring in 1985; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby commend Fred Chase, Sr., on his many years of
patriotic military service on behalf of his country and on his
long and successful career and extend to him best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
Davis
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 25, 2011.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate