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| 4 | 4 | | SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, United States Air Force Captain Robert Russell |
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| 6 | 6 | | Barnett was laid to rest at the Texas State Cemetery on April 7, |
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| 7 | 7 | | 2017, the 51st anniversary of the day that he was killed in action |
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| 8 | 8 | | during the Vietnam War; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, A member of the 8th Bomber Squadron, Captain Barnett |
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| 10 | 10 | | was flying a classified mission when his aircraft was shot down over |
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| 11 | 11 | | Laos in 1966; it was nearly 40 years before the United States |
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| 12 | 12 | | military was able to locate the crash site and 50 before his body |
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| 13 | 13 | | was recovered; thanks to the dedicated and exhaustive work of those |
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| 14 | 14 | | who took part in this effort, he is now able to be buried with full |
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| 15 | 15 | | military honors in the state and country he loved; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The son of Robert and Zelma Barnett, Russell Barnett |
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| 17 | 17 | | was born on October 5, 1933, and raised in Gladewater; he graduated |
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| 18 | 18 | | from Gladewater High School, where he played for the Bears football |
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| 19 | 19 | | team; his skill on the gridiron earned him a football scholarship to |
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| 20 | 20 | | Baylor University, and after completing his degree there, he |
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| 21 | 21 | | enlisted in the United States Air Force; flying under the call sign |
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| 22 | 22 | | "Bear," his nickname, he served 10 years in the air force and was |
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| 23 | 23 | | proud to be fighting to protect our freedoms; when he passed away at |
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| 24 | 24 | | age 32, he left behind two cherished daughters, Donna and Debra; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Captain Russell Barnett served with honor, courage, |
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| 26 | 26 | | and patriotism, embodying the highest ideals of the United States |
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| 27 | 27 | | armed forces, and his fellow citizens owe him a debt of gratitude |
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| 28 | 28 | | and remembrance that the passage of time can never diminish; now, |
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| 29 | 29 | | therefore, be it |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 31 | 31 | | hereby pay special tribute to the memory of Captain Robert Russell |
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| 32 | 32 | | Barnett and extend to his loved ones sincere condolences for the |
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| 33 | 33 | | loss of this valiant Texan; and, be it further |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 35 | 35 | | prepared for his family and that when the Texas Senate and House of |
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| 36 | 36 | | Representatives adjourn this day, they do so in memory of Captain |
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| 37 | 37 | | Russell Barnett. |
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