TITLE: Honoring Trinidad Martinez of San Antonio, one of the last living survivors of the Bataan Death March.

SUMMARY: Honoring Trinidad Martinez of San Antonio, one of the last living survivors of the Bataan Death March.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Trinidad Martinez, one of the last living survivors of the Bataan Death March, was honored at a ceremony hosted by the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico on April 8 and 9, 2017, in commemoration of the 75th anniversary of that horrific event; and WHEREAS, Born in Mercedes on December 24, 1917, Trinidad Martinez answered his nation's call to duty by enlisting in the United States Army in April 1941; that December, just hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the Japanese attacked U.S. military bases in the Philippines, where Mr. Martinez was stationed; ground forces invaded two weeks later and drove American and Filipino troops from Manila to the Bataan Peninsula, where they fought desperately in the mountainous jungles; cut off from supply lines, the Americans and Filipinos ran out of food and ammunition, and their ranks were decimated by hunger and disease; and WHEREAS, U.S. General Edward King surrendered Bataan on April 9, 1942; soon after, Mr. Martinez and some 76,000 other Americans and Filipinos were forced to begin marching to a prisoner-of-war camp more than 60 miles away; the POWs were driven forward under the broiling sun with little food and almost no water; soldiers who paused or fell were summarily executed, along with anyone who tried to help them, and thousands died en route from thirst, starvation, disease, and brutality; eventually, the American prisoners were transported to slave labor camps in Asia or interned in the camp at Cabanatuan, where Mr. Martinez was forced to make weapons and machinery for the Japanese; he was among the fewer than 1,000 survivors who were finally liberated three years later by an elite Ranger battalion and the Philippine resistance; and WHEREAS, After returning stateside, Mr. Martinez was accorded 15 medals, including the World War II Victory Medal, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal, and he was honorably discharged in November 1945 with the rank of corporal; today, he lives in San Antonio with his daughter, Rosie Dorado, and his grandchildren; and WHEREAS, Demonstrating the highest degree of patriotism, Trinidad Martinez fought courageously for his country and steadfastly endured unimaginable hardships during his captivity, and the exemplary service he rendered in behalf of this nation is deserving of the deepest gratitude of every American; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby honor Trinidad Martinez for his valiant military service during World War II and extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Mr. Martinez as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Martinez Guillen Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2405 was adopted by the House on May 28, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House