E2138 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 31, 2009 is not intended to be used by an entity to se- ued forward, dodging machine-gun fire until the request that this resolution be officially cure funds for entities unless the use of the he reached the gunner’s left flank; and entered in the Congressional Record as a me- funding is consistent with the specified pur- Whereas, Having come through a hail of morial to the Congress of the bullets unscathed, despite being hit twice in of America. pose of the earmark; and (3) meets or ex- the helmet, Private Serna got close enough f ceeds all statutory requirements for matching to lob four grenades into the machine-gun funds where applicable. nest, killing six enemy soldiers and taking HONORING JACKSON POLICE CHIEF f into custody the eight survivors, who quick- RICK STAPLES ly surrendered to the lone American soldier; TEXAS S. CON. RES. 22 and Whereas, This encounter was followed HON. JOHN S. TANNER shortly by an even more astounding feat OF TENNESSEE HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY when, during his second scouting mission in IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF TEXAS the Meuse-Argonne campaign, Private Serna IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES captured 24 German soldiers with his Enfield Friday, July 31, 2009 rifle and grenades, an episode that began Friday, July 31, 2009 when he spied a walking on a trench Mr. TANNER. Madam Speaker, I rise today Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, at the re- bank; and to honor Rick Staples, a long-time public serv- quest of the Secretary of State of the State of Whereas, Although the sniper was about ant who will retire as Chief of the Jackson Po- Texas, I am officially entering Senate Concur- 200 yards away, Private Serna shot and lice Department on September 18. Under wounded him, then followed the wounded Chief Staples, the Jackson Police Department rent Resolution 22, as passed by the 81st German’s trail into a trench, where he dis- Legislature, Regular Session, 2009 of the has dedicatedly served our community, and covered several more enemy soldiers; open- his leadership has proven to be an example State of Texas, into the CONGRESSIONAL ing fire, Private Serna killed three of the for both veterans and new officers alike. RECORD. enemy and scattered the others in that ini- Rick Staples was born and raised in Madi- SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 22 tial burst; and Whereas, Frequently changing positions, son County, which I am honored to represent Whereas, The is the na- Private Serna fooled the enemy into think- in this Chamber. After graduating from Jack- tion’s highest decoration for valor in combat ing they were under fire from several Ameri- awarded to members of the United States son High School in 1970, he attended college cans, keeping up the ruse until he was close armed forces; generally presented to recipi- at Jackson State Community College before enough to lob three grenades into the Ger- ents by the president of the United States on graduating from the prestigious Northwestern man dugout; in about 45 minutes of furious congress’s behalf, it is often called the Con- University Police Administration training pro- action, Private Serna managed to kill 26 gressional Medal of Honor; and German soldiers and capture another 24, gram. Whereas, First authorized in 1861 for whom he held captive by himself until his Following his graduation from the North- United States Navy and Marine Corps per- unit arrived; and western University Police Administration train- sonnel and for soldiers Whereas, Enduring several months of com- ing program, he attained the rank of lieutenant the following year, Medals of Honor are bat action largely unharmed, Private Serna and worked his way up through the ranks awarded sparingly and bestowed only on was shot in both legs by a sniper four days those individuals performing documented until, on October 12, 1989, Rick was promoted before the Armistice; while he was conva- to Chief of Police, a position he has held ever acts of gallant heroism against an enemy lescing in an army hospital in France, Gen- force; and eral John J. Pershing, commander-in-chief of since. Whereas, Since congress authorized the the American Expeditionary Forces, deco- During his tenure serving West Tennessee, award, 70 Medals of Honor have been accred- rated Private Serna with the Distinguished our law enforcement professionals have seen ited to the State of Texas, yet other Texans Service Cross, the second highest American sweeping changes, from the computerization have similarly distinguished themselves by combat medal; and of records to the complete restructuring of the acts of courageous gallantry in combat no Whereas, Private Serna also received two department. Chief Staples has managed a less deserving of such recognition; one such French Croix de Guerre with Palm medals, individual is Marcelino Serna, a native of staff of 253 employees, an annual budget of the French Medaille Militaire, the French more than $15 million and been responsible Mexico whose unflinching and selfless brav- Commemorative Medal, the Italian Cross of ery and acts of uncommon valor on the bat- Merit, the Victory Medal, the for providing police services to a population of tlefields of World War I made him one of Victory Medal with three campaign bars, the more than 62,000 residents. He helped create Texas’ most decorated heroes; and Saint Mihiel Medal, the Verdun Medal, and the Gang Task Force and Violent Crimes Task Whereas, Born in the Mexican state of Chi- two Purple Hearts; and Force as well as start the first Citizen’s Police huahua in 1896, he came to the United States Whereas, Discharged from the army in Academy in Tennessee. as a young man in search of a better life, 1919, Marcelino Serna settled in El Paso, working various jobs in Texas, Kansas, and Among Chief Staples’ proudest accomplish- where he became a United States citizen, en- ments is the partnership developed between Colorado; and tered the civil service, and lived out his re- Whereas, In 1917, Mr. Serna was working in tirement years until his death in 1992; al- the police department and our community. In Colorado when the United States, unable to though he lived the most ordinary of lives 1994, the city council called for a crime sum- remain neutral any longer while war raged after the war, Mr. Serna was, for a brief mo- mit between the officers and the residents of in Europe, declared war on Germany; later ment in time, an extraordinary hero whose Jackson. The result was the establishment of that year, federal officials in Denver, Colo- remarkable feats of bravery under fire ele- the Community Policing Program, which has rado, gathered a group of men and held them vated him into the pantheon of American he- allowed for the relationship between the offi- until their draft status could be verified; and roes; and Whereas, Included in this group, Mr. Serna cers and the community to continue to grow, Whereas, In 1993, Texas Congressman Ron- something in which Chief Staples takes tre- chose not to wait for such verification and ald D. Coleman introduced a measure in the instead volunteered for service in the United 103rd Congress to waive certain statutory mendous pride. States Army; after only three weeks of time limits on awarding the Medal of Honor In addition to his service to the Jackson Po- training, 20-year-old Private Serna was and thus bestow on Marcelino Serna the lice Department, Chief Staples has volun- shipped to England, where he was assigned to proper recognition he so richly deserves; un- teered as a Critical Incident Debriefer for the the 355th Infantry of the 89th Division, a unit fortunately, the measure did not receive a Tennessee Public Safety Network as well as a that was to see action in some of the most proper hearing, thereby denying the legacy personal security guard for celebrities at high- arduous campaigns of the war; and of Mr. Serna its proper place in history; now, profile, local events such as the Cerebral Whereas, By the time the unit arrived in therefore, be it France, Private Serna’s status as a noncit- Resolved, That the 81st Legislature of the Palsy Telethon and the Miss Tennessee Pag- izen had come to light, and he was con- State of Texas hereby respectfully urge the eant. sequently offered a discharge from the army; Congress of the United States to reopen con- Chief Staples’ retirement is not an end to given the opportunity to return home, Pri- sideration of this case to posthumously his service to the public. He has found a new vate Serna refused the discharge, choosing to award the Medal of Honor to World War I challenge, accepting a position with a security stay with his unit as it began its advance to- hero Marcelino Serna; and, be it further firm located in Baghdad, Iraq. I trust that he ward the Meuse River and Argonne Forest in Resolved, That the Texas secretary of state will perform his new job with the same dedica- northeastern France; and forward official copies of this resolution to Whereas, At Saint Mihiel, Private Serna’s the president of the United States, to the tion, professionalism and perseverance as he unit was moving through thick brush when a speaker of the house of representatives and has in his current position. German machine gunner opened fire, killing the president of the senate of the United Madam Speaker, I have long been proud to 12 American soldiers; with his lieutenant’s States Congress, and to all the members of call Ricky Staples my friend. I thank you and permission, Private Serna, a scout, contin- the Texas delegation to the congress with our colleagues for joining me in expressing

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