TITLE: Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Master Sergeant Mike C. Peña.

SUMMARY: Directing the governor of the State of Texas to posthumously award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to U.S. Army Master Sergeant Mike C. Peña.

FULL TEXT:
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 Mike C. Pe a of Newgulf, who gave his life to save his fellow soldiers during the Korean War, proved himself a deserving recipient of this prestigious commendation; and WHEREAS, Born on November 6, 1924, Mike Pe a was the son of Mexican immigrants Miguel and Maria Pe a; in 1940, two months shy of his 16th birthday, he enlisted in the army in Houston after misrepresenting his age to recruiters; he was assigned to the 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division, and received training at Fort Clark in Brackettville and Fort Bliss in El Paso; just a year after his induction into the service, the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor precipitated the United States' entry into World War II; and WHEREAS, Deployed to the Pacific theater in 1943, Sergeant Pe a fought to liberate the Philippines from Japanese forces and later took part in the occupation of Japan; he received an honorable discharge on October 3, 1945, and reenlisted the same day; a month earlier, on September 5, he had married his sweetheart, the former Aurora Lola Urenda, and their life together would be enriched by the birth of two sons, Michael David and Frederick William; for a time, the family resided at Camp McGill in occupied Japan before moving to Camp Carson in Colorado; and WHEREAS, In late June 1950, the U.S. military was again called upon when soldiers from communist North Korea invaded South Korea; Sergeant Pe a volunteered to return to action, rejoining the 5th Cavalry Regiment, and he participated in an amphibious landing at P'ohang-dong, Korea, in July 1950; the 1st Cavalry Division was ordered to defend a 35-mile sector along the Nakdong River, which became the scene of intense fighting as enemy combatants pushed in from the north; and WHEREAS, On September 4, 1950, Sergeant Pe a and his platoon were posted near Waegwan, when a North Korean Army battalion emerged only yards away, having advanced under the shroud of darkness and mist; the platoon opened fire but was caught off guard by the attack and was forced to withdraw; Sergeant Pe a swiftly rallied his troops and led them in a counterattack that succeeded in regaining their lost ground; and WHEREAS, Sergeant Pe a and his men then established a defensive perimeter and attempted to repel the North Koreans' repeated assaults, but the enemy enjoyed an overwhelming numerical advantage; when the platoon's ammunition supply began to dwindle, Sergeant Pe a commanded his men to fall back and seized a machine gun to provide cover for the retreating troops; making a heroic stand, he held back the enemy singlehandedly until the early morning hours, when his position was overrun and he was fatally wounded; he died at the age of 25, on the date of his fifth wedding anniversary, and he was buried with full military honors at Cedarvale Cemetery in Bay City; and WHEREAS, The outstanding service that Sergeant Pe a rendered over the course of his military career brought him more than 30 decorations and awards, including the Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters, and the Army Good Conduct Medal with bronze clasp and two loops; moreover, his heroism in Korea was posthumously recognized with the bestowal of the Congressional Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on March 18, 2014; in his hometown, he has been honored with a memorial plaque at Newgulf Elementary School; moreover, a Texas state highway, a gate at Fort Bliss, and a training center at Fort Cavazos bear his name; and WHEREAS, The extraordinary gallantry and immeasurable sacrifice of Master Sergeant Mike C. Pe a exemplify the proudest tradition of service to country, and he is indeed deserving of this state's supreme military commendation; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 88th 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 Mike C. Pe a in recognition of his valiant service during the Korean War. Kitzman President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 115 was adopted by the House on May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 1 present, not voting. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 115 was adopted by the Senate on May 26, 2023, by a rising vote. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor