H.C.R. No. 122

	HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	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. Army Master Sergeant Travis E.
	Watkins proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious
	award for his heroism during the Korean War; and
	WHEREAS, Born in Waldo, Arkansas, Travis Watkins grew up in
	Troup, Texas; answering his nation's call to duty, he enlisted in
	the U.S. Army in 1939, and he served with distinction in the Pacific
	theater during World War II, earning the Bronze Star for his actions
	at Guadalcanal; after the war, he was honorably discharged, and in
	1948, he married Madie Sue Barnett; the couple became the parents of
	two daughters; and
	WHEREAS, During the Korean War, Master Sergeant Watkins
	reenlisted, and he was deployed to Korea with Company H, Ninth
	Infantry Regiment, Second Infantry Division; on August 31, 1950,
	the company was stationed near Yongsan when an overwhelming North
	Korean force broke through the United Nations lines, and Sergeant
	Watkins and 30 other men found themselves under siege and cut off
	from the rest of their unit; and
	WHEREAS, Over the next three days, Sergeant Watkins displayed
	both remarkable leadership and extraordinary bravery; he took
	command, established perimeter defenses to repel the constant enemy
	assaults, and continually exposed himself to enemy fire by moving
	from foxhole to foxhole to give instructions and encouragement to
	his fellow soldiers; and
	WHEREAS, When the unit's ammunition began to run out,
	Sergeant Watkins shot two North Korean soldiers 50 yards beyond the
	perimeter and went out alone to retrieve their weapons and
	ammunition; he was wounded while doing so, but still managed to fell
	all three of his enemy attackers; he collected their weapons and
	ammunition as well and made it back to his astonished men; and
	WHEREAS, Later, six of the enemy began to lob grenades into
	the American perimeter, endangering the position; Sergeant Watkins
	stood up from his foxhole and fired his rifle at the attackers; he
	was immediately struck by machine gun fire, but he continued
	shooting until he had killed all six North Koreans; he then
	collapsed, paralyzed from the waist down; and
	WHEREAS, Despite his grave injuries, Sergeant Watkins
	continued to encourage his men, refusing to accept any food from
	their dwindling supply; when it became clear that help would not
	arrive in time, he ordered his men to withdraw, and he further
	refused to let them take him with them, since his inability to walk
	would only slow their retreat; in the last moments of his life, he
	wished his comrades luck and remained at his post until the end; he
	died two days before his 30th birthday; and
	WHEREAS, Sergeant Watkins's leadership throughout this
	ordeal helped to keep his men alive and enabled his troops to mount
	a strong defense that killed approximately 500 enemy soldiers; in
	recognition of his monumental courage, President Harry S. Truman
	posthumously awarded him the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest
	military award; the medal was presented to his wife in a ceremony in
	Washington, D.C., on January 9, 1951; and
	WHEREAS, In the years since, Sergeant Watkins has been
	further honored in the state he called home; a housing complex at
	Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio was named in his memory in 1961, and
	the Watkins-Logan State Veterans Home in Tyler was also named in his
	honor in 2011; in 2000 a supply ship, the USNS Watkins, was
	christened in his name; his remains are interred at Gladewater
	Memorial Park in Gladewater; and
	WHEREAS, During a desperate situation in a time of war,
	Master Sergeant Travis Watkins took command, bolstered the spirits
	of his men, and repeatedly risked his life in their behalf, making
	the ultimate sacrifice in order that they might survive; for this
	selfless act of heroism, it is indeed appropriate that he be honored
	with this state's supreme military commendation; now, therefore, be
	it
	RESOLVED, That the 85th 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 Travis E. Watkins in
	recognition of his valiant service during the Korean War.
	Dean
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.C.R. No. 122 was adopted by the House on May
	9, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.C.R. No. 122 was adopted by the Senate on May
	19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: __________________
	Date
	__________________
	Governor