Bill Text: TX SR334 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: In memory of Frank C. Stecklein of San Antonio.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Passed) 2013-03-04 - Reported enrolled [SR334 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-SR334-Enrolled.html
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| In Memory | ||
| of | ||
| Frank C. Stecklein | ||
| WHEREAS, | ||
| WHEREAS, Born in Kansas in March of 1913, this exemplary | ||
| patriot committed the better part of his life to military and | ||
| civil service; after his graduation from military academy in | ||
| 1932, he joined the United States Army Horse Cavalry, and he | ||
| reenlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Master Sergeant Stecklein served valiantly in the | ||
| Pacific theater, which saw some of the most ferocious fighting in | ||
| World War II; he and other soldiers from the Detached Services of | ||
| General MacArthur's headquarters in the Philippines became | ||
| Japanese prisoners of war in May of 1942; as a captive over the | ||
| next three years, he performed hard labor on the island of Luzon | ||
| and survived brutal beatings as a forced worker in the coal mines | ||
| of Japan; and | ||
| WHEREAS, His indomitable spirit sustained him through | ||
| these ordeals; after months of rehabilitation, Mr. Stecklein | ||
| reenlisted in the United States Air Force; he was recalled to | ||
| Tokyo in 1947 as a witness in war crimes trials, and in 1949, he | ||
| went through Intelligence training before being transferred to | ||
| Germany to interview German prisoners of war; he was later | ||
| stationed in South America; after retiring in 1962, he served in | ||
| the Civil Service until 1972; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Mr. Stecklein received numerous military honors, | ||
| including the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart; he was a life | ||
| member of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor and a proud | ||
| supporter of the American Legion and the Moose Lodge; and | ||
| WHEREAS, An extraordinary gentleman and a loving family | ||
| man, Mr. Stecklein did not let the hardships of his military | ||
| career overshadow the pleasures in life; he was an intrepid | ||
| traveler and adventurer, and he embraced new experiences | ||
| throughout his life; he took accordion lessons during his time in | ||
| Germany, played the trumpet, and learned to speak Spanish before | ||
| being posted to Paraguay and visiting every country in South | ||
| America; and | ||
| WHEREAS, From the age of 13, he sang in church choir each | ||
| year, and he continued that tradition by singing at Christmas | ||
| mass at the age of 99, alongside his beloved wife, Judy; now, | ||
| therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 83rd | ||
| Legislature, hereby extend sincere condolences to the bereaved | ||
| family of Frank C. Stecklein; and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for | ||
| his family as an expression of deepest sympathy from the Texas | ||
| Senate, and that when the Senate adjourns this day, it do so in | ||
| memory of Frank Stecklein. | ||
| Uresti, Van de Putte | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on March 4, 2013, by a | ||
| rising vote. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
