H.C.R. No. 122
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established
to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state
or federal military forces, and U.S. Army Master Sergeant Travis E.
Watkins proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious
award for his heroism during the Korean War; and
WHEREAS, Born in Waldo, Arkansas, Travis Watkins grew up in
Troup, Texas; answering his nation's call to duty, he enlisted in
the U.S. Army in 1939, and he served with distinction in the Pacific
theater during World War II, earning the Bronze Star for his actions
at Guadalcanal; after the war, he was honorably discharged, and in
1948, he married Madie Sue Barnett; the couple became the parents of
two daughters; and
WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Master Sergeant Watkins
reenlisted, and he was deployed to Korea with Company H, Ninth
Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division; on August 31, 1950,
the company was stationed near Yongsan when an overwhelming North
Korean force broke through the United Nations lines, and Sergeant
Watkins and 30 other men found themselves under siege and cut off
from the rest of their unit; and
WHEREAS, Over the next three days, Sergeant Watkins displayed
both remarkable leadership and extraordinary bravery; he took
command, established perimeter defenses to repel the constant enemy
assaults, and continually exposed himself to enemy fire by moving
from foxhole to foxhole to give instructions and encouragement to
his fellow soldiers; and
WHEREAS, When the unit's ammunition began to run out,
Sergeant Watkins shot two North Korean soldiers 50 yards beyond the
perimeter and went out alone to retrieve their weapons and
ammunition; he was wounded while doing so, but still managed to fell
all three of his enemy attackers; he collected their weapons and
ammunition as well and made it back to his astonished men; and
WHEREAS, Later, six of the enemy began to lob grenades into
the American perimeter, endangering the position; Sergeant Watkins
stood up from his foxhole and fired his rifle at the attackers; he
was immediately struck by machine gun fire, but he continued
shooting until he had killed all six North Koreans; he then
collapsed, paralyzed from the waist down; and
WHEREAS, Despite his grave injuries, Sergeant Watkins
continued to encourage his men, refusing to accept any food from
their dwindling supply; when it became clear that help would not
arrive in time, he ordered his men to withdraw, and he further
refused to let them take him with them, since his inability to walk
would only slow their retreat; in the last moments of his life, he
wished his comrades luck and remained at his post until the end; he
died two days before his 30th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Sergeant Watkins's leadership throughout this
ordeal helped to keep his men alive and enabled his troops to mount
a strong defense that killed approximately 500 enemy soldiers; in
recognition of his monumental courage, President Harry S. Truman
posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest
military award; the medal was presented to his wife in a ceremony in
Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1951; and
WHEREAS, In the years since, Sergeant Watkins has been
further honored in the state he called home; a housing complex at
Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio was named in his memory in 1961, and
the Watkins-Logan State Veterans Home in Tyler was also named in his
honor in 2011; in 2000 a supply ship, the USNS Watkins, was
christened in his name; his remains are interred at Gladewater
Memorial Park in Gladewater; and
WHEREAS, During a desperate situation in a time of war,
Master Sergeant Travis Watkins took command, bolstered the spirits
of his men, and repeatedly risked his life in their behalf, making
the ultimate sacrifice in order that they might survive; for this
selfless act of heroism, it is indeed appropriate that he be honored
with this state's supreme military commendation; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously
award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Travis E. Watkins in
recognition of his valiant service during the Korean War.
Dean
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 122 was adopted by the House on May
9, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 122 was adopted by the Senate on May
19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor