TITLE: In memory of United States Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast.

SUMMARY: In memory of United States Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Words cannot express the heartache felt at the loss of U.S. Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast, who died while bravely serving his country in Afghanistan on April 6, 2011, at the age of 23; and WHEREAS, Seaman Rast fulfilled a longtime dream when he joined the navy in 2009; trained as a medic, he was stationed at the Naval Medical Center, Expeditionary Medical Force Detachment, in San Diego; in 2011, he volunteered for duty in Afghanistan, where he was assigned as a hospitalman with a Houston-based reserve unit known as "the Lone Star Battalion"--the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment; he was conducting a dismounted patrol in Helmand Province when he was killed; and WHEREAS, The awards conferred on this courageous young man included the National Defense Service Medal, Pistol Marksmanship Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; and WHEREAS, Exemplifying the highest ideals of the U.S. armed forces, Seaman Rast inspired others through his fortitude, tenacity, and dedication to his comrades-in-arms, and he has earned the lasting gratitude of every American for his valiant service in this nation's behalf; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas hereby pay tribute to the life of U.S. Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast and extend deepest sympathy to all those who mourn his passing; 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 and Senate adjourn this day, they do so in memory of U.S. Navy Seaman Benjamin D. Rast. Menendez Straus M. Gonzalez of El Paso Oliveira Allen N. Gonzalez of El Paso Orr Alonzo Gooden Otto Alvarado Guerra Paddie Anchia Guillen Parker Anderson Gutierrez Patrick Ashby Harless Perez Aycock Harper-Brown Perry Bell Hernandez Luna Phillips Bohac Herrero Pickett Bonnen of Brazoria Hilderbran Pitts Bonnen of Galveston Howard Price Branch Huberty Raney Burkett Hughes Ratliff Burnam Hunter Raymond Button Isaac Reynolds Callegari Johnson Riddle Canales Kacal Ritter Capriglione Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Carter King of Hemphill Rodriguez of Travis Clardy King of Parker Rose Coleman King of Taylor Sanford Collier King of Zavala Schaefer Cook Kleinschmidt Sheets Cortez Klick Sheffield of Bell Craddick Kolkhorst Sheffield of Coryell Creighton Krause Simmons Crownover Kuempel Simpson Dale Larson Smith Darby Laubenberg Smithee Davis of Dallas Lavender Springer J. Davis of Harris Leach Stephenson S. Davis of Harris Lewis Stickland Deshotel Longoria Strama Dukes Lozano Taylor Dutton Lucio III Thompson of Brazoria Eiland Marquez Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Toth Fallon Martinez Fischer Turner of Collin Farias McClendon Turner of Harris Farney Menendez Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villarreal Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White Geren Munoz, Jr. Workman Giddings Murphy Wu Goldman Naishtat Zedler Gonzales Nevarez Zerwas President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the House on May 16, 2013. Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 130 was unanimously adopted by a rising vote of the Senate on May 21, 2013. Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: Date Governor