Bill Text: TX SCR43 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Matthew E. Mendoza.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (N/A - Dead) 2015-05-13 - No action taken in committee [SCR43 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SCR43-Introduced.html
84R27593 JGH-D | ||
By: Campbell | S.C.R. No. 43 |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor was established | ||
to recognize gallant and intrepid service by a member of the state | ||
or federal military forces, and U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew | ||
E. Mendoza proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious | ||
honor; and | ||
WHEREAS, Born on April 22, 1984, Matthew Mendoza grew up | ||
playing football and became a popular athlete at Highlands High | ||
School, where he was a linebacker and running back for the football | ||
team; he also enjoyed coaching in the local Pop Warner league; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 2004, Mr. Mendoza answered his nation's call to | ||
duty during time of war and became the third generation of his | ||
family to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps; he completed two tours of | ||
duty in Iraq before shipping out to Afghanistan in 2008 with the 2nd | ||
Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine | ||
Expeditionary Force, out of Twentynine Palms, California, in | ||
support of Operation Enduring Freedom; and | ||
WHEREAS, Appointed squad leader for 1st Platoon, Company E, | ||
on April 8, 2008, Sergeant Mendoza led more than 40 combat patrols | ||
in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province, one of the most | ||
dangerous regions in Afghanistan; as the leader of his unit's | ||
advance party, he dedicated countless hours to evaluating the | ||
platoon's area of operations, to ensure that his fellow marines | ||
would understand the battlefield; and | ||
WHEREAS, On June 19, 2008, Sergeant Mendoza and his squad | ||
were conducting a mounted patrol along Highway 1 when they came | ||
under small arms fire; he and his men left their vehicle and engaged | ||
the enemy, eliminating the threat and preventing any casualties | ||
among the coalition forces and the surrounding civilian population; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, The following day, Sergeant Mendoza ordered some of | ||
his squad to remain behind in the staging area while he, his Afghan | ||
interpreter, and three other men advanced on foot through difficult | ||
terrain that would not accommodate their vehicle; a few moments | ||
later, the sergeant and his interpreter were killed by a suicide | ||
bomber, and the other three men were injured; by putting himself in | ||
the lead, he once again prevented the enemy from killing more | ||
American soldiers; and | ||
WHEREAS, Admired by his men for always leading from the | ||
front, Matthew Mendoza repeatedly risked his life to protect the | ||
lives of his fellow marines; for his actions on June 19, he was | ||
posthumously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, Throughout his military career, Matthew Mendoza | ||
embodied the highest traditions of the Marine Corps with his | ||
initiative, perseverance, and devotion to duty, and for his | ||
conspicuous bravery and his final sacrifice, he is truly deserving | ||
of this state's supreme military award; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby direct the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously | ||
award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to Matthew E. Mendoza in | ||
recognition of his valiant service during Operation Enduring | ||
Freedom. |