H.R. No. 1720
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of U.S. Army Captain Andrew
Michael Pedersen-Keel suffered an immeasurable loss with the death
of this valiant soldier on March 11, 2013, at the age of 28; and
WHEREAS, Assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 3rd Special
Forces Group (Airborne), out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Captain
Pedersen-Keel was killed in Jalrez District, Afghanistan, while
supporting Operation Enduring Freedom; and
WHEREAS, Andrew Pedersen-Keel was born on June 8, 1984, in
South Miami, Florida, to Helen Pedersen and Henry Keel; he grew up
in Madison, Connecticut, and attended Avon Old Farms High School,
where he was admired for his charisma and for his athletic prowess
on the wrestling, lacrosse, and football teams; and
WHEREAS, After graduating in 2002, Captain Pedersen-Keel
became a member of the first class to enter the U.S. Military
Academy at West Point after 9/11, earning a bachelor's degree in
American legal studies in 2006; he went on to attend the Infantry
Officer Basic Training Course and the U.S. Army Ranger School at
Fort Benning, Georgia, after which he was assigned to Fort Hood as
an infantry rifle platoon leader with the 3rd Brigade Combat Team,
1st Infantry Division; and
WHEREAS, In June 2008, Captain Pedersen-Keel was deployed to
Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade as a company executive officer,
and in September of that year, he became the leader of 3rd Platoon,
B Company, in Kandahar Province, leading his platoon on more than
150 combat foot patrols and three air assault operations; during
that time, he was promoted to the rank of captain; and
WHEREAS, Returning home in 2009, Captain Pedersen-Keel
volunteered for the Special Forces Assessment and Selection Course;
he went on to attend the Maneuver Captains Career Course in 2010,
and in 2011, he graduated from the Special Forces Qualification
Course; he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Special Forces
Group, as an ODA commander before being deployed in August 2012 for
a second tour in Afghanistan, where he dedicated himself to
training the Afghan army; and
WHEREAS, Captain Pedersen-Keel's decorations and awards
include two Bronze Stars, the Army Commendation Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Global
War on Terror Expeditionary Medal, the NATO Medal, the Combat
Infantryman Badge, the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Ranger Tab,
the Special Forces Tab, the Pathfinder Badge, the Air Assault
Badge, and the Parachutist Badge; he also received posthumously a
third Bronze Star and a Purple Heart; and
WHEREAS, During his time at Fort Hood, this outstanding young
man learned to love Central Texas; he took particular pleasure in
visiting friends and family in Austin and in running with his dog,
Lady, on the hike and bike trail around Lady Bird Lake; he was
engaged to be married, and he had recently purchased a home in North
Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Taking to heart the motto of the U.S. Army Special
Forces, de oppresso liber, "to free the oppressed," Andrew
Pedersen-Keel embodied the highest ideals of our nation's armed
forces, and the memory of his courage, patriotism, and kindness
will continue to inspire and comfort all those he leaves behind;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Captain
Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel and extend sincere condolences to the
members of his family: to his mother, Helen Pedersen Keiser and her
husband, Bob Keiser; to his father, Henry Keel; to his sister, Mary
Elizabeth Keel; to his fiancee, Celeste Pizza; 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 Captain
Andrew Michael Pedersen-Keel.
Anderson
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker Anchia Guillen Parker
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez Ashby Harless Perez
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney Branch Huberty Raney
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond Burnam Hunter Raymond
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle Callegari Johnson Riddle
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter Canales Kacal Ritter
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose Clardy King of Parker Rose
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons Creighton Krause Simmons
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith Dale Larson Smith
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama Deshotel Longoria Strama
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth Elkins Martinez Toth
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba Farrar Miles Villalba
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White Frullo Morrison White
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu Giddings Murphy Wu
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1720 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on May 1, 2013.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira
Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr
Alonzo Gooden Otto
Alvarado Guerra Paddie
Anchia Guillen Parker
Anderson Gutierrez Patrick
Ashby Harless Perez
Aycock Harper-Brown Perry
Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips
Bohac Herrero Pickett
Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts
Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price
Branch Huberty Raney
Burkett Hughes Ratliff
Burnam Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Callegari Johnson Riddle
Canales Kacal Ritter
Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis
Clardy King of Parker Rose
Coleman King of Taylor Sanford
Collier King of Zavala Schaefer
Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets
Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell
Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell
Creighton Krause Simmons
Crownover Kuempel Simpson
Dale Larson Smith
Darby Laubenberg Smithee
Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer
J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson
S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland
Deshotel Longoria Strama
Dukes Lozano Taylor
Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria
Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris
Elkins Martinez Toth
Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin
Farias McClendon Turner of Harris
Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant
Farrar Miles Villalba
Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal
Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morrison White
Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman
Giddings Murphy Wu
Goldman Naishtat Zedler
Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas