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A resolution recognizing World War II Veteran Virgil Luther Mann.
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WHEREAS, Virgil Luther Mann was born on December 19, 1925, in Burkburnett, Texas to William and Virginia Mann; and
WHEREAS, Virgil trained at Camp Walters and then Camp Blanding where he became an expert marksman and received the marksmanship medal for the BAR; and
WHEREAS, Virgil served in General George S. Patton's 3rd Army, 65th Division with the rank of Private First Class; and
WHEREAS, he was sent directly to the frontlines in a squad of five tasked with clearing out pill boxes amid a German assault that left two members of the squad dead; and
WHEREAS, Virgil and the two other surviving men were held in captivity in which German troops shared their rations of horse meat, lard, and hardtack with Virgil and his fellow Americans; and
WHEREAS, Virgil and his two fellow soldiers escaped captivity and hid in a nearby cave before being recaptured by the Germans; and
WHEREAS, Virgil was freed when an American Company surrounded the German Unit; and
WHEREAS, following his freeing, Virgil attended a press conference in Paris where an editor from the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Aaron Carter asked, "Anybody here from Texas?" Virgil raised his hand and when Aaron returned to Texas, he called Virgil's mother to let her know her son was alive and safe; and
WHEREAS, during his time in the Army, Virgil was promoted to Corporal. After completing his service, he was discharged from the Army in 1945 and returned to the United States; and
WHEREAS, with the help of a good friend, Virgil went on to earn a degree from North Texas State University and served 30 years at Lone Star Gas Company; and
WHEREAS, Virgil celebrated his 97th birthday on December 19; and
WHEREAS, Virgil's service to our country exemplifies the significance of Veterans Day, when we remember and honor the generations of courageous Americans who served and fought to protect freedom here and around the world; and
WHEREAS, it...
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