H.R. No. 229
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The life of a decorated Vietnam War hero drew to a
close with the passing of U.S. Army Captain Curtis Wayne Fitzgerald
of Palestine on February 4, 2025, at the age of 77; and
WHEREAS, A native of Palestine, Curtis Fitzgerald was born on
March 23, 1947, and he graduated from Palestine High School; and
WHEREAS, In 1969, Mr. Fitzgerald began six years of active
duty with the U.S. Army in Vietnam; piloting Bell UH-1 "Huey"
aircraft for the 189th Assault Helicopter Company "Ghost Riders,"
he took part in a number of major operations; during the Battle of
Hamburger Hill, he flew multiple resupply missions, and in the
Siege of Ben Het, he completed a supply run after his helicopter
sustained heavy gunfire; he went on to serve as the air mission
commander for the initial invasion of Cambodia, and during
long-range reconnaissance patrols into Cambodia and Laos, he
identified enemy positions before returning his damaged aircraft to
safety; ultimately rising to the rank of captain, he flew 1,600
hours in combat and was shot down six times; subsequently, he
volunteered for another six-month tenure in support of incoming
units; and
WHEREAS, For his remarkable courage, Captain Fitzgerald was
awarded the Silver Star, 3 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 3 Bronze
Star Medals, 19 Air Medals, and the Purple Heart; he was later
honored by U.S. Representative Jeb Hensarling, who entered a
statement of recognition into the Congressional Record in May 2008;
and
WHEREAS, Over the years, Captain Fitzgerald lent his time and
expertise to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans
service organizations, and area post-traumatic stress disorder
support groups; he also served his community in a number of
leadership roles and founded the Anderson County Soccer
Association; a University of Houston graduate, he established and
operated a real estate firm specializing in farm and ranch sales;
and
WHEREAS, In all his endeavors, Captain Fitzgerald enjoyed the
love and support of his wife, Sandra, his son, Curtis, his
daughter-in-law, Stefani, and his grandchildren, Stone and Curtis;
and
WHEREAS, Curtis Fitzgerald lived a rich and purposeful life,
and he leaves behind a legacy of service to his country and his
community that will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of
knowing him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of U.S. Army Captain
Curtis Wayne Fitzgerald and extend deepest condolences to his
relatives and friends; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Curtis
Fitzgerald.
Harris
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan Alders Guillen Morgan
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz Allen Harless Muñoz
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble Anchía Harris Noble
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson Barry Harrison Oliverson
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan Bryant Hopper Phelan
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson Buckley Howard Pierson
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa Bucy Hull Plesa
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds Button Isaac Reynolds
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson Cain Johnson Richardson
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal Cole King Rosenthal
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield Cook LaHood Schofield
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons Curry Leach Simmons
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth Fairly Lujan Toth
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair Flores Luther Troxclair
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner Frank Manuel Turner
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo Gates Metcalf Vo
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle Gerdes Meyer Walle
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 229 was unanimously adopted by a rising
vote of the House on February 12, 2025.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw
Alders Guillen Morgan
Allen Harless Muñoz
Anchía Harris Noble
Ashby Harris Davila Olcott
Barry Harrison Oliverson
Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz
Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr
Bernal Hernandez Patterson
Bhojani Hickland Paul
Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso
Bowers Holt Perez of Harris
Bryant Hopper Phelan
Buckley Howard Pierson
Bucy Hull Plesa
Bumgarner Hunter Raymond
Button Isaac Reynolds
Cain Johnson Richardson
Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos
Canales Jones of Harris Romero
Capriglione Kerwin Rose
Cole King Rosenthal
Collier Kitzman Schatzline
Cook LaHood Schofield
Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft
Craddick Lambert Shaheen
Cunningham Landgraf Shofner
Curry Leach Simmons
Darby Leo Wilson Slawson
A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee
Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller
Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson
DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico
Dorazio Louderback Tepper
Dutton Lowe Thompson
Dyson Lozano Tinderholt
Fairly Lujan Toth
Flores Luther Troxclair
Frank Manuel Turner
Gámez Martinez VanDeaver
Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut
Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos
Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell
Gates Metcalf Vo
Gerdes Meyer Walle
Geren Meza Ward Johnson
Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton
González of Dallas Moody Wilson
González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu
Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener