Bill Text: TX HR1173 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Honoring J. D. Chastain of Hewitt for his service during World War II.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2013-04-23 - Reported enrolled [HR1173 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HR1173-Enrolled.html
H.R. No. 1173 |
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WHEREAS, Our nation owes a profound debt of gratitude to | ||
those brave men and women who take up arms in defense of liberty, | ||
and one such individual is J. D. Chastain of Hewitt, who served in | ||
the U.S. Navy during World War II; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born on a farm in Brown County, Mr. Chastain | ||
graduated from high school in 1942 and went on to attend Howard | ||
Payne University; answering his nation's call to duty, he joined | ||
the U.S. Navy in 1943 and received his basic training at the Great | ||
Lakes Naval Base near Chicago; and | ||
WHEREAS, Mr. Chastain was assigned to an antiaircraft gun on | ||
the Lexington-class aircraft carrier the USS Saratoga, which was | ||
deployed in the Pacific theater of the war; he participated in the | ||
carrier's missions to provide air support to Allied campaigns in | ||
the Solomon, Gilbert, and Marshall Islands during 1943 and 1944, | ||
and in 1945, he was present at the Battle of Iwo Jima, where the ship | ||
was damaged by a kamikaze attack and forced to return to Hawaii for | ||
repairs; and | ||
WHEREAS, On the Saratoga, Seaman Chastain endured the | ||
hardships of wartime at sea with good humor, sleeping in a hammock | ||
in a room packed with other men when he wasn't manning his "sky aft" | ||
position 60 feet above the carrier's deck; he learned to survive on | ||
a diet of beans, powdered eggs, and coffee so strong you could stand | ||
a spoon in it, and he took his rest when he could, learning to fall | ||
quickly asleep whenever he was allowed to "take five"; after the | ||
Saratoga returned to Hawaii, he won promotion and reassignment to a | ||
job tuning up airplanes; he mustered out and returned to Texas in | ||
1946, never having had a day of leave during his entire service; and | ||
WHEREAS, Upon completing his education at Howard Payne | ||
University, Mr. Chastain went on to a distinguished career with the | ||
Texas Department of Public Safety, supervising the establishment of | ||
crime laboratories, taking part in the implementation of the FBI's | ||
NCIC criminal records system, and playing a role in establishing | ||
the use of Breathalyzers; he also served as a Brown County | ||
commissioner, and he maintained his ties to the military as a member | ||
of the Naval Reserves; and | ||
WHEREAS, During the difficult years of World War II, many | ||
young Americans placed their lives on hold and put themselves at | ||
risk to defend our nation, and J. D. Chastain may indeed take great | ||
pride in being among their number and in his selfless contribution | ||
to the war effort; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas | ||
Legislature hereby honor J. D. Chastain for his service during | ||
World War II and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued | ||
happiness; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for Mr. Chastain as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas House of Representatives. | ||
Anderson | ||
______________________________ | ||
Speaker of the House | ||
I certify that H.R. No. 1173 was adopted by the House on April | ||
17, 2013, by a non-record vote. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||