| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The valiant military service of Gary George Wetzel |
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| 6 | 7 | | is being saluted as part of the 2019 Medal of Honor Host City |
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| 7 | 8 | | Weekend in Gainesville; and |
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| 8 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Established in 2001, Gainesville's Medal of Honor |
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| 9 | 10 | | Host City Program acknowledges the heroism and sacrifice of |
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| 10 | 11 | | individuals who have earned the Medal of Honor, the nation's |
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| 11 | 12 | | highest military award for valor; each year, local citizens join |
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| 12 | 13 | | together to fund travel costs and other expenses to bring medal |
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| 13 | 14 | | recipients to the city for a special series of events; and |
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| 14 | 15 | | WHEREAS, U.S. Army Specialist Fourth Class Gary George Wetzel |
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| 15 | 16 | | received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War; |
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| 16 | 17 | | on January 8, 1968, his unit, the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, |
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| 17 | 18 | | 11th Combat Aviation Battalion, became trapped in a landing zone; |
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| 18 | 19 | | his helicopter was disabled by a rocket-propelled grenade, and two |
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| 19 | 20 | | crewmembers were killed by enemy fire; this gallant soldier left |
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| 20 | 21 | | his post as a door gunner to provide aid to his aircraft commander |
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| 21 | 22 | | when another explosion shredded his arm and hurled him into a rice |
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| 22 | 23 | | paddy; despite his horrific injuries, he staggered back to his |
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| 23 | 24 | | machine gun and opened fire on the enemy, eliminating an automatic |
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| 24 | 25 | | weapons emplacement that had been inflicting heavy casualties on |
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| 25 | 26 | | the American forces; he then helped drag his wounded comrades to |
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| 26 | 27 | | safety, even though he repeatedly lost consciousness due to a loss |
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| 27 | 28 | | of blood; and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Demonstrating extraordinary courage in the line of |
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| 29 | 30 | | duty, Gary Wetzel fulfilled the highest ideals of the United States |
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| 30 | 31 | | armed forces, and he has earned the lasting admiration of a grateful |
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| 31 | 32 | | nation; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 33 | 34 | | hereby pay tribute to Gary George Wetzel on the occasion of the 2019 |
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| 34 | 35 | | Medal of Honor Host City Weekend in Gainesville and commend him for |
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| 35 | 36 | | his exemplary service in the defense of our nation; and, be it |
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| 36 | 37 | | further |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 38 | 39 | | prepared for Mr. Wetzel as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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| 39 | 40 | | House of Representatives and Senate. |
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| 40 | | - | Springer |
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| 41 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 42 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 43 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 102 was adopted by the House on |
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| 44 | | - | March 13, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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| 45 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 46 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 47 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 102 was adopted by the Senate on |
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| 48 | | - | March 14, 2019, by a viva-voce vote. |
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| 49 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 50 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 51 | | - | APPROVED: __________________ |
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| 52 | | - | Date |
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| 53 | | - | __________________ |
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| 54 | | - | Governor |
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