82S10134 MMS-D
By: Quintanilla H.R. No. 76
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On Veterans Day 2011, Texans across the state are
pausing to recognize the courage and dedication of our country's
armed forces, and this day provides a fitting occasion to pay
tribute to United States Army Corporal Eduardo Pedregon of El Paso,
who gave his life as a soldier in the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, Eduardo Pedregon joined the army shortly after
graduating from high school in 1948; he was only 17 when he secured
his parents' consent and enlisted; with the outbreak of the Korean
War in June 1950, both he and his brother, Bobby, were deployed to
repel the invading North Korean troops; Eduardo Pedregon served
with Regimental Combat Team 31, a unit made up of elements from the
7th Infantry Division, while Bobby Pedregon served with the 187th
Airborne RCT; and
WHEREAS, By October 1950, the United Nations forces, led by
General Douglas MacArthur and composed primarily of American
troops, had pushed the North Koreans back beyond the 38th parallel;
the following month, General MacArthur ordered an offensive that
was intended to end the war by driving all the way up to the Yalu
River, on the border between North Korea and China; Regimental
Combat Team 31 was hastily assembled and assigned to protect the
eastern flank of the 1st Marine Division as it advanced northwest
from the Chosin Reservoir; and
WHEREAS, Unbeknownst to American commanders, however, a
large number of Chinese troops had infiltrated the area around the
reservoir, and on the night of November 27 they launched multiple
surprise attacks; the ensuing battle lasted some two and a half
weeks and was fought over rugged terrain, in temperatures that fell
as low as 35 degrees below zero; although undermanned, owing to the
fact that it was lacking one battalion, and spread thin, RCT-31
fought heroically, repelling its adversaries repeatedly before it
was ordered to withdraw on December 1; throughout its retreat,
RCT-31 endured a continuing, ferocious assault by Chinese troops,
who had been directed by Chairman Mao Zedong to annihilate it; in
the end, only about 1,000 of the approximately 2,500 Americans in
the 3,000-strong unit survived, and of those, only 385 were combat
able at the conclusion of the battle; and
WHEREAS, Eduardo Pedregon never returned home from the Battle
of Chosin Reservoir; last seen on November 30, 1950, he continued to
be listed among the missing until army officials notified his
family in March 2011 that his remains had been identified; after
more than 60 years, his relatives are at last able to give this
brave young Texan a proper burial, in Arlington National Cemetery;
and
WHEREAS, With the release of Chinese records, it has been
learned that RCT-31 faced a Chinese force many times larger than had
long been thought; some 20,000 Chinese troops, in fact, squared off
against Corporal Pedregon's unit; in spite of those overwhelming
odds, RCT-31 succeeded in protecting the eastern flank of the 1st
Marine Division for four critical days; that delay enabled the
marines to fortify a crucial base on the only escape route available
to marine and army forces as they retreated to the port city of
Hungnam for evacuation; after the full dimensions of what Corporal
Pedregon and his fellow soldiers achieved were finally recognized,
RCT-31 was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation in 2000; and
WHEREAS, For his selfless efforts and immeasurable
sacrifice, Americans owe a debt to Corporal Eduardo Pedregon that
can never be repaid; his unfaltering devotion to duty, honor, and
this country embodied the highest ideals of the United States Army
and contributed to saving the lives of countless marines and fellow
soldiers; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby honor the memory of
Corporal Eduardo Pedregon and extend to his family sincere sympathy
for his loss and deep gratitude for his valiant service; 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 Corporal
Eduardo Pedregon.