Bill Text: TX HR638 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of World War II veteran Harvey Kenneth Burrow.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-30 - Reported enrolled [HR638 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR638-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 638 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Family and friends will forever treasure their | ||
| memories of decorated World War II veteran Harvey Kenneth Burrow, | ||
| who died on January 12, 2004, at the age of 86; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Harvey Burrow was born in Knox County on May 17, | ||
| 1917, to Hiram and Vera Burrow; the son of sharecroppers, he learned | ||
| the value of hard work at an early age, and on his 21st birthday in | ||
| 1938, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a member of the army's | ||
| first parachute unit, the 501st Parachute Infantry Battalion; he | ||
| went on to serve in Company C of the elite 551st Parachute Infantry | ||
| Battalion, an independent unit of 800 men that was assigned | ||
| wherever it was most needed; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In August 1944, Paratrooper Burrow and the 551st | ||
| participated in the Allied invasion of southern France, where they | ||
| freed Draguignan against heavy resistance, captured a German major | ||
| general, and liberated the city of Nice; during the fighting, he | ||
| earned the nickname "Mule" when he retrieved supplies from a pack | ||
| mule that had been killed by enemy fire and carried them himself up | ||
| a hill to relieve another unit; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Following several months in the Alps, the 551st took | ||
| part in the Battle of the Bulge, where Mr. Burrow, now a sergeant, | ||
| endured bitter cold and took part in brutal hand-to-hand combat, | ||
| helping to drive the Germans back at Noirefontaine, Herispehe, | ||
| Dairomont, and Quartiers; he evaded capture at one point by hiding | ||
| in a freezing river and breathing through a reed, and when army | ||
| doctors wanted to amputate his frozen legs, he held them at bay with | ||
| an unloaded pistol and massaged his legs until the circulation was | ||
| restored; on January 7, 1945, the 551st took the city of | ||
| Rochelinval, but by now, the unit had lost 85 percent of its men, | ||
| with only 14 officers and 96 troops remaining; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After a month in the hospital, Sergeant Burrow was | ||
| assigned to the 508th Parachute Infantry Battalion of the 82nd | ||
| Airborne Division, and he took part in the advance across the Elbe | ||
| River, where the 82nd Airborne accepted the surrender of the German | ||
| 21st Army on May 2, 1945; discharged later that year, he continued | ||
| to serve in the Texas National Guard; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This intrepid Texan was awarded two Bronze Stars, | ||
| four Purple Hearts, the Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign | ||
| Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, and the | ||
| Combat Infantryman Badge; the 551st was recognized with a | ||
| Presidential Unit Citation for its efforts at the Battle of the | ||
| Bulge and with the Croix de Guerre from the French government for | ||
| its valor at Draguignan; and | ||
| WHEREAS, After the war, Mr. Burrow lived for many years in | ||
| Premont, where he worked for the Sun Oil Company until his | ||
| retirement in 1984; he and his wife, Martha, shared a rewarding | ||
| marriage that spanned 50 years, and he was the proud father of four | ||
| children, Kenny, Carolyn, Debra, and Tammy; and | ||
| WHEREAS, During the greatest conflict of the 20th century, | ||
| Harvey Burrow exemplified the highest ideals of the U.S. armed | ||
| forces, conducting himself with fortitude, tenacity, and courage | ||
| during some of the fiercest fighting of the war, and he leaves | ||
| behind a record of service to his country that will continue to | ||
| inspire all those who knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Harvey Kenneth Burrow | ||
| for his heroic efforts on behalf of this nation during World War II; | ||
| 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 Harvey | ||
| Burrow. | ||
| Harris of Anderson | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 638 was unanimously adopted by a | ||
| rising vote of the House on March 30, 2023. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
