A house RESOLUTION

TO COMMEND AND THANK THE 150 SOUTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS AND THEIR COMMANDER, LIEUTENANT COLONEL TRAVIS MOORE, WHO IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 SERVED IN TEXAS TO ASSIST AUTHORITIES WITH OPERATION LONE STAR.

Whereas, the South Carolina National Guard soldiers who headed to the United States' southern border for a 31-day mission last summer had a history of answering stateside calls. These 150 soldiers were activated on June 29, 2023, for a month-long deployment assisting Texas National Guard soldiers and public safety officers along the state's 1,250 mile border with Mexico. It was a project Texas dubbed Operation Lone Star; and

Whereas, the soldiers, a part of the 1-118th Infantry Battalion, operated under their unit's motto, "Wherever my country calls," and were led by their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Travis Moore of Spartanburg County, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives; and

Whereas, the directive from South Carolina's Governor Henry McMaster for this deployment came two weeks after Governor Greg Abbott of Texas had sent letters to governors nationwide asking for assistance at the border, following the end of Title 42 pandemic immigration restrictions; and

Whereas, Governor McMaster said the criminal problem at the border affects every state, and he issued the directive in an effort to reduce the flow of deadly illegal drugs, particularly fentanyl, to South Carolina; and

Whereas, the South Carolina soldiers' mission included observing activity between the lawful international crossings to the United States and reporting what they saw and working directly with Texas authorities to support preventing and deterring transnational criminal activity along the border; and

Whereas, grateful for the faithful service of these South Carolina National Guard soldiers, the House of Representatives takes great pride in saluting them for selfless, courageous service in a situation that put them in harm's way. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, commend and thank the 150 South Carolina National Guard soldiers and their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Travis Moore, who in the summer of 2023 served in Texas to assist authorities with Operation Lone Star.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the 1-118th Infantry Battalion of the South Carolina National Guard.

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