HR229 - In memory of U.S. Army Captain Curtis Wayne Fitzgerald of Palestine.

      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   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     ______________________________   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