By: Anchía H.R. No. 419
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Basque Country is located in the northeastern
corner of the Iberian Peninsula, along the present-day border of
France and Spain, and the presence of Basques in the United States
can be traced back to the mid-19th century; around 1,400 combatants
of Basque origin have been identified as serving in the U.S. armed
forces during World War II, and their military, social, personal,
and family histories help illuminate the process of Basque
emigration and settlement in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas honors
the 14 identified veterans of Basque heritage who were born in Texas
or enlisted in the state, and it acknowledges the myriad
contributions of these valiant service members:
● U.S. Army Corporal Manuel Abascal, who served with the
45th Infantry Division in Europe and who passed away in 2000;
● U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Manuel Amestoy, who served with
the Headquarters and Service Company, V Amphibious Tractor
Battalion, in the Pacific theater and who passed away in 1987;
● U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel Frank Buldain, who served
with the 36th Infantry Division in Europe and who passed away in
1997;
● U.S. Army Air Force Lieutenant Louis Buldain, who
ultimately attained the rank of colonel during a three-decade
military career and who passed away in 2000;
● U.S. Army Corporal George Buldain, who enlisted in 1943
and who passed away in 1996;
● U.S. Army Tech 4 Eugenio "Eugene" Echaniz, who enlisted in
1942 and who passed away in 2006;
● U.S. Army Sergeant Raul Echaniz, who served with the Third
Army under General George S. Patton and who passed away in 2011;
● U.S. Army Private Antonio "Tony" Garibay, who enlisted in
1946 and who passed away in 2014;
● U.S. Army Private Federico Bilbao, who enlisted in 1943
and served until 1946;
● U.S. Army Air Force Sergeant Fernando Gil, who served with
the 802nd Bombardment Squadron in Mountain Home, Idaho, and who
passed away in 1967;
● U.S. Army Corporal Valentin Elola, who enlisted in 1943
and who passed away in 1992;
● U.S. Army Air Force Sergeant Alfonso Garde, who served
with the 724th Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, in Europe and who passed
away in 1992;
● U.S. Army Corporal Calixto Ochotorena, who served with the
Transportation Corps and who passed away in 2007; and
● U.S. Army Private First Class Tony Uharriet, who enlisted
in 1946 and who passed away in 1982; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas is a
special event taking place on March 2, 2023, hosted by the Sancho de
Beurko Association and the Voces Oral History Center at The
University of Texas at Austin in conjunction with Texas State
Representative Rafael Anchía; and
WHEREAS, This special presentation is a part of the
association's international research project Fighting Basques:
Memory of World War II, which is undertaken in collaboration with
North American Basque Organizations; the project studies the role
that Basques and Basque Americans played in the conflict; and
WHEREAS, Consisting of an academic panel, Immigrants in World
War II: Basques in Texas will focus on these individuals to
illustrate the contributions made by the migrant population of the
U.S. during the war; furthermore, the gathering celebrates these
Basque Texans, many of whom have received little public
recognition, as rightful members of the Greatest Generation; and
WHEREAS, Immigrants in World War II: Basques in Texas
provides a vital opportunity to pay tribute to a deserving group of
military veterans while furthering the worthwhile goal of
establishing a more comprehensive and inclusive understanding of
our nation's history; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the Immigrants in World War II:
Basques in Texas event and honor the World War II veterans of Basque
origin who so bravely served our country; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for the families of the Basque service members as well as
the Sancho de Beurko Association and the Voces Oral History Center
as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of
Representatives.