Bill Text: TX HR2204 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending the members of Company E of the Texas National Guard for their valiant service during World War II.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-29 - Reported enrolled [HR2204 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR2204-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2204 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The soldiers of Company E of the Texas National | ||
| Guard exhibited great courage during World War II, and they are | ||
| truly deserving of special recognition; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In November 1940, the federal government mobilized | ||
| the Texas National Guard, and Company E was activated as part of the | ||
| 2nd Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division; in | ||
| an era of segregation, Company E was the only unit in the guard to be | ||
| made up entirely of Mexican American soldiers, though led by white | ||
| officers; of the more than 170 men in the company, 84 were from El | ||
| Paso; and | ||
| WHEREAS, America entered the war in December 1941, and in | ||
| September 1943, Company E and the 36th Division were among the first | ||
| Allied soldiers to fight in Europe, when they came ashore on the | ||
| beaches of Salerno, Italy; Company E took part in some of the | ||
| fiercest fighting along the Italian peninsula, at the battles at | ||
| San Pietro, Naples, and Anzio, and in January 1944, they arrived at | ||
| the banks of the Rapido River near Monte Cassino; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A reconnaissance team from Company E discovered that | ||
| the Germans on the far side of the river were heavily fortified, and | ||
| the men of the company then took part in a brutal battle on the night | ||
| of January 20; risking drowning and hypothermia as they entered the | ||
| swift, freezing waters of the river, they were driven back on their | ||
| first attempt; courageously, they reentered the water, and a few | ||
| men broke through the enemy's barbed wire, allowing the Allied | ||
| forces to continue their march toward Rome; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Company E continued to fight bravely through | ||
| northern Italy and into France and Austria at great personal cost, | ||
| and only a handful of the company's members returned to El Paso at | ||
| the end of the war; as one veteran said about the battle at the | ||
| Rapido River, "If you did not die, or get wounded, or get captured, | ||
| you were not there"; and | ||
| WHEREAS, At a time when Mexican Americans were often | ||
| discriminated against at home, the proud men of Company E answered | ||
| their nation's call to arms; many of them gave their lives, and the | ||
| legacy of their valor and devotion to duty will continue to inspire | ||
| generations of Texans; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the men of Company E of the Texas | ||
| National Guard for their courage and sacrifice during World War II. | ||
| Fierro | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2204 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 27, 2019, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
