TITLE: In memory of U.S. Army Sergeant Mario Rodriguez, Jr.

SUMMARY: In memory of U.S. Army Sergeant Mario Rodriguez, Jr.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The friends and family of U.S. Army Sergeant Mario M. Rodriguez, Jr., of Smithville suffered an immeasurable loss with the death of this valiant soldier on June 11, 2010, at the age of 24; and WHEREAS, Assigned to the 264th Clearance Company, 27th Engineer Battalion, Sergeant Rodriguez was mortally wounded while his unit was conducting a dismounted route clearance in Powrak, Logar Province, Afghanistan, and came under enemy attack; and WHEREAS, Mario Rodriguez grew up in Smithville and attended Smithville High School, where he was a linebacker on the football team and demonstrated natural leadership ability; in 2003, he enlisted with the Texas National Guard, and he served his first tour of duty in Kosovo; he was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and was promoted to sergeant shortly before his deployment to Afghanistan; his exemplary actions were recognized with many decorations, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, and four Army Achievement Medals; and WHEREAS, A kind and caring man, Sergeant Rodriguez consistently put the needs of others before his own; he was an outstanding mentor to his comrades, and he was selflessly devoted to his wife, Leslie, and their daughter, Raven; and WHEREAS, Sergeant Rodriguez exemplified the highest ideals of the United States armed forces, and although his passing leaves a void in the lives of his loved ones, they will forever carry memories of this heroic young man close in their hearts; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sergeant Mario M. Rodriguez, Jr., and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his wife, Leslie Marie Rodriguez; to his daughter, Raven Marie George; to his mother, Rita Carmen Alcaraz; to his father, Mario M. Rodriguez, Sr.; to his brothers and sisters; and to his many other relatives and friends; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Mario Rodriguez, Jr. Strama Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Allen Gooden Murphy Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Aycock Harless Parker Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Berman Hartnett Paxton Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Branch Hochberg Phillips Brown Hopson Pickett Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burnam Howard of Travis Price Button Huberty Quintanilla Cain Hughes Raymond Callegari Hunter Reynolds Carter Isaac Riddle Castro Jackson Ritter Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Christian Keffer Schwertner Coleman King of Parker Scott Cook King of Taylor Sheets Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons Deshotel Lavender Strama Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dutton Lozano Thompson Eiland Lucio III Torres Eissler Lyne Truitt Elkins Madden Turner Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farrar Margo Villarreal Fletcher Marquez Vo Flynn Martinez Walle Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Gallego McClendon White Garza Menendez Woolley Geren Miles Workman Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 2355 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 28, 2011. Chief Clerk of the House