84R17264 JGH-D
By: Guillen H.R. No. 1774
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rene Garcia Gonzalez of Hebbronville served his
country with great distinction as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps
during the Vietnam War, and he truly merits special recognition for
his heroism and his devotion to duty; and
WHEREAS, The son of Jesus and Florencia Gonzalez, Rene
Gonzalez enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967, and he fought bravely
for nearly 13 months in Vietnam as a machine gunner with the 1st
Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, Charlie
Company, 3rd Platoon, 1st Squad; and
WHEREAS, On June 4, 1968, Corporal Gonzalez was airlifted
with 180 other marines to Landing Zone Loon, a fire base four miles
from Khe Sanh, near the border with North Vietnam and Laos; the base
was entirely surrounded by regular soldiers of the North Vietnamese
Army, and on June 5, Corporal Gonzalez's unit began to endure an
artillery barrage and constant automatic weapons fire from the
enemy on a nearby ridge; and
WHEREAS, The following morning, the 88th NVA Regiment
assaulted LZ Loon and overran the perimeter; Corporal Gonzalez
courageously defended his foxhole, hurling hand grenades at enemy
soldiers crawling up a ravine, and he and his assistant gunner were
badly wounded when an enemy mortar shell hit their position; and
WHEREAS, In the end, the enemy was driven back when the only
surviving marine officer called in an artillery strike on their own
position; 41 marines were killed and more than 100 wounded in the
engagement, one of the deadliest of the Vietnam War; Corporal
Gonzalez was flown to Khe Sanh and then to a hospital in Japan, and
he received a Purple Heart and an honorable discharge because of the
wounds he received that day; and
WHEREAS, Today, Mr. Gonzalez remains proud of his military
service; he is a lifetime member of the Military Order of the Purple
Heart as well as an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
the Disabled American Veterans, and the Third Marine Division
Association; and
WHEREAS, A devoted family man, Mr. Gonzalez is blessed with
the love and support of his wife, Antonia Guerra Gonzalez, his sons,
Rene Gonzalez Jr. and Oziel Gonzalez, and his daughters, Maria I.
Gonzalez Lascano and Sonia Gonzalez; and
WHEREAS, Rene Gonzalez endured the hardships of war with
courage and tenacity, and he has earned a lasting debt of honor from
every American; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend former U.S. Marine Corps Corporal Rene
Garcia Gonzalez for his valiant service during the Vietnam War and
extend to him sincere appreciation for his immeasurable efforts in
this country's behalf; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Gonzalez as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.