TITLE: Commemorating the 2014 reunion of the USS Platte AO-24 Association.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the 2014 reunion of the USS Platte AO-24 Association.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Every two years, the USS Platte AO-24 Association brings together former crew members of that navy ship to renew friendships and to reflect on their service to the nation, and it is a pleasure to welcome the group to San Antonio for its 2014 reunion; and WHEREAS, The USS Platte AO-24 was built in Baltimore and commissioned by the United States Navy in 1939; in World War II, the ship supported American combat vessels involved in the Battle of Midway and in operations in the Solomon Islands, including the crucial fighting at Guadalcanal; the Platte later fueled and assisted other navy ships in the Pacific theater until the surrender of Japanese forces in 1945, and then it served as a station tanker at Japanese ports while the country was occupied by U.S. forces; and WHEREAS, During the Korean War, the ship carried out missions in 1951 and 1952 in which it played a vital role in combat operations; based out of its home port of Long Beach, California, the Platte went on to complete numerous deployments over the next two decades that took it to ports throughout East and Southeast Asia; when the U.S. became involved in the conflict in Vietnam, the ship took part in its third war, and it continued to be a valuable part of the 7th Fleet until it was decommissioned in the early 1970s; all told, the Platte earned a total of 22 battle stars; and WHEREAS, Lynn Todd, a crew member at the time of the Korean War, organized the USS Platte AO-24 Association in 1999 and devoted himself to seeking out others who had been stationed on the vessel; today, the association's membership includes individuals who served on the ship throughout its history; to help rekindle the esprit de corps of these former crew members, the association began holding reunions on a biennial basis, with the first gathering taking place in 2002 in Platte City, Missouri; the following year, members of the association took part in the dedication ceremony, in which the ship's bell was delivered to the county courthouse in Platte City to be permanently displayed; and WHEREAS, The brave men of the USS Platte rendered invaluable service to the United States armed forces over a period of more than three decades, and their valor and dedication to duty are truly deserving of profound appreciation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the 2014 reunion of the USS Platte AO-24 Association and extend to the event's organizers and participants sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable visit to San Antonio; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the association as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Farias Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 863 was adopted by the House on March 27, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House