TITLE: Paying tribute to the sacrifice of U.S. Navy Seaman Johnnie David Hutchins during World War II and honoring his family.

SUMMARY: Paying tribute to the sacrifice of U.S. Navy Seaman Johnnie David Hutchins during World War II and honoring his family.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, During World War II, U.S. Navy Seaman First Class Johnnie David Hutchins of Eagle Lake performed an extraordinary act of heroism that cost him his life and earned him the Medal of Honor; and WHEREAS, Born in Weimar on August 4, 1922, to Johnnie Marion and Callie Drue Hutchins, Johnnie David Hutchins worked with his family as a sharecropper in the fields near Lissie while growing up; he played on the Eagle Lake High School football team, and after graduation, he found employment at the Parker Brothers shipyard in Houston; and WHEREAS, Answering his nation's call to duty, Mr. Hutchins enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve in November 1942, and the following year he became the helmsman of the USS LST-473,a landing craft that was part of an amphibious force under the command of General Douglas MacArthur off the coast of New Guinea; and WHEREAS, On September 4, 1943, the LST-473 was one of six landing craft approaching a Japanese-occupied beach under heavy fire when Seaman Hutchins, at the helm, saw a Japanese torpedo bearing down on his ship; before he could steer away from this threat, two shells struck the landing craft, knocking him away from the wheel and setting the pilot house on fire; and WHEREAS, Already mortally wounded, Seaman Hutchins returned to his post and steered his landing craft safely out of the path of the torpedo; he died still clinging to the wheel, having devoted the last moments of his life to saving the other men aboard the vessel; he was exactly a month past his 21st birthday; and WHEREAS, A year later, Seaman Hutchins was posthumously awarded the nation's highest military award, the Medal of Honor, and his family attended the christening of a ship named in his honor, the USS Johnnie Hutchins;after the war, his body was returned to Texas and buried in Eagle Lake, and on the 57th anniversary of his death in 2000, a crowd of 300 people, including former crew members of LST-473,gathered at his graveside for a solemn ceremony; and WHEREAS, Johnnie Hutchins demonstrated conspicuous bravery above and beyond the call of duty, making the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of his comrades, and for this heroic act, Americans owe him a debt of remembrance that the passage of time can never diminish; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to U.S. Navy Seaman Johnnie David Hutchins and honor his family for keeping alive the memory of this courageous service member; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. Stephenson President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 74 was adopted by the House on April 6, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 74 was adopted by the Senate on April 19, 2017, by a rising vote.Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor