Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HCR76 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	H.C.R. No. 76
	1	+	85R10621 RMA-D
	2	+	By: Stephenson H.C.R. No. 76
2	3
3	4
4		-	~~HOUSE~~ CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	5	+	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
5	6		WHEREAS, U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roy Perez Benavidez built
6	7		a distinguished military career that spanned nearly a quarter
7	8		century, and his bravery and self-sacrifice in the service of his
8	9		fellow Americans have become legendary; and
9	10		WHEREAS, The son of Salvador Benavidez and Teresa Perez, Roy
10	11		Benavidez was born in Lindenau on August 5, 1935; he answered his
11	12		nation's call to duty in 1952, enlisting in the Texas Army National
12	13		Guard, and three years later, he joined the U.S. Army; after
13	14		completing airborne training in 1959, he was assigned to the 82nd
14	15		Airborne Division at Fort Bragg in North Carolina; he went on to
15	16		join the elite Army Special Forces and became a member of the 5th
16	17		Special Forces and the Studies and Observations Groups; and
17	18		WHEREAS, Sergeant Benavidez was deployed to Southeast Asia in
18	19		1965 as an advisor to an infantry regiment in the Army of the
19	20		Republic of Vietnam; one day, while on patrol, he was seriously
20	21		injured when he stepped on a land mine, and he was subsequently
21	22		evacuated to the United States; though doctors believed he had
22	23		permanently lost the use of his legs, he remained determined to
23	24		continue his military service, and in July 1966, more than a year
24	25		after he was injured, he was able to walk out of the hospital; two
25	26		years later, he returned to South Vietnam; and
26	27		WHEREAS, On the morning of May 2, 1968, while assigned to
27	28		Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special
28	29		Forces, west of Loc Ninh, Sergeant Benavidez heard a distress call
29	30		from a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team that was pinned
30	31		down by a North Vietnamese Army battalion of about 1,000 soldiers;
31	32		he quickly volunteered to assist in an extraction attempt, and
32	33		after reaching the battle zone, he ran through withering enemy fire
33	34		to reach his comrades, sustaining multiple injuries; despite
34	35		agonizing pain, he loaded the wounded and dead members of the team
35	36		onto the aircraft, but then the pilot was killed and the helicopter
36	37		crashed; Sergeant Benavidez quickly called in tactical air strikes
37	38		and directed fire from supporting gunships, enabling another
38	39		extraction helicopter to land; over the course of the six-hour
39	40		fight, he received dozens of bullet, bayonet, and shrapnel wounds,
40	41		and his valiant actions saved the lives of at least eight men and
41	42		prevented classified documents from falling into enemy hands; and
42	43		WHEREAS, In recognition of his heroism, Sergeant Benavidez
43	44		was presented with the Medal of Honor by President Ronald Reagan on
44	45		February 24, 1981; this courageous Texan was also the recipient of
45	46		the Purple Heart with four oak-leaf clusters, the Defense
46	47		Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army
47	48		Commendation Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with four
48	49		campaign stars; and
49	50		WHEREAS, After retiring with the rank of master sergeant in
50	51		1976, Roy Benavidez returned home to his wife, Hilaria, and their
51	52		three children in El Campo; during the ensuing years, he spoke often
52	53		at the invitation of schools, military and civic groups, and
53	54		businesses, and he wrote several books recounting his life
54	55		experiences, including The Three Wars of Roy Benavidez and Medal of
55	56		Honor: A Vietnam Warrior's Story; he passed away on November 29,
56	57		1998, at the age of 63; and
57	58		WHEREAS, Through his unfaltering courage and devotion to
58	59		duty, Master Sergeant Benavidez exemplified the highest ideals of
59	60		the U.S. armed forces; his actions and accomplishments are an
60	61		inspiration to all Americans, and he is truly deserving of special
61	62		recognition for his notable contributions as a soldier and patriot;
62	63		now, therefore, be it
63	64		RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas
64	65		hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Army Master Sergeant Roy P.
65	66		Benavidez and to his exceptional service in behalf of his nation.
66		-	Stephenson
67		-	______________________________ ______________________________
68		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
69		-	I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the House on April
70		-	6, 2017, by a non-record vote.
71		-	______________________________
72		-	Chief Clerk of the House
73		-	I certify that H.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the Senate on
74		-	April 19, 2017, by a rising vote.
75		-	______________________________
76		-	Secretary of the Senate
77		-	APPROVED: __________________
78		-	Date
79		-	__________________
80		-	Governor