| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 140 |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | In Memory |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | of |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | Thomas E. Creek |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is proud to pay |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | tribute to the life and legacy of Thomas E. Creek, who died in the |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | line of duty on February 13, 1969, while serving the nation in |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | Vietnam; and |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Thomas Creek was born April 7, 1950, in Joplin, |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | Missouri; he grew up in Amarillo and graduated from Palo Duro |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | High School, where he was a member of the band; and |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | January 16, 1968, and completed his basic training at Camp |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Pendleton; he was transferred to Vietnam and was serving as a fire |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | team leader with the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | when he valiantly gave his life in service to his country; and |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Lance Corporal Creek's unit came under heavy enemy |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | fire near the resettlement village of Cam Lo; while moving to a |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | position from which he could better return fire, he was seriously |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | wounded and fell into a gully alongside several of his fellow |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | Marines; when an enemy grenade fell in their midst, Lance Corporal |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | Creek, without a thought for his own safety, rolled onto the grenade |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | and absorbed the blast, courageously saving the lives of five |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | Marines; and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, He was awarded the nation's highest accolade, the |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | Medal of Honor, for his heroism, and he is Amarillo's only |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | recipient and the youngest Texan to ever be awarded the medal; |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | his other medals include the Purple Heart, the National Defense |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | stars; it is truly fitting that he be posthumously honored by the |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | Texas Senate; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life and indomitable |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | spirit of Thomas E. Creek; and, be it further |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | honor of his heroic service. |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | Seliger |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | ________________________________ |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | President of the Senate |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | I hereby certify that the |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | the Senate on February 7, 2019, by |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | a rising vote. |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | Secretary of the Senate |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | ________________________________ |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | Member, Texas Senate |
|---|