Committee nominates two Texans for Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor Committee voted unanimously to nominate two service members as its choices for the state’s highest civilian military award: Sgt. Ricky Whitner for the post‑1956 era and Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Nathan Gage Ingram for the post‑Sept. 11, 2001 era.

The committee, chaired by Representative Cole Heffner, adopted its permanent rules, elected officers and then heard public testimony before moving into a brief executive session and making formal nominations. The nominations will be formalized by concurrent resolution prepared by Senator Kelly Hancock and Representative Heffner and forwarded for the governor’s action if required by statute.

Committee members heard testimony describing the actions for which each nominee was recommended. Admiral Jamie Sands, commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, and Force Master Chief Walter Dittmar testified on behalf of Petty Officer Nathan Gage Ingram, describing a maritime interdiction off the coast of Somalia during which Ingram entered the water on Jan. 11, 2024, attempting to rescue a teammate and was not recovered after a multi‑day search. Admiral Sands said Ingram’s actions “embody the courage, selflessness, and unwavering spirit of a true Texas hero.” Representative Ben Bumgarner presented Ingram’s nomination and family members, including his mother Christy Hughes and father Chet Ingram, and others provided personal testimony to the panel.

Representative Schauffner presented the nomination of Sergeant Ricky Whitner, recounting his service in Vietnam and describing an incident on July 10, 1970, in which Whitner repeatedly entered burning wreckage to rescue others; testimony says his efforts saved 12 people and that he was awarded decorations including the Purple Heart. Senator Kelly Hancock and others on the panel emphasized the seriousness of the committee’s review and the limited number of awards the statute permits.

After public testimony the committee voted by roll call: 5 ayes, 0 nays, to nominate Sgt. Ricky Whitner as the committee’s choice in the post‑1956/pre‑Sept. 11, 2001 category, and 5 ayes, 0 nays, to nominate Nathan Gage Ingram in the post‑Sept. 11, 2001 category. The meeting record shows the committee adopted rules, selected Representative Cole Heffner as chair and Senator Kelly Hancock as vice chair earlier in the session.

The committee conducted a brief executive session to review nominees before returning to public session for the roll‑call votes. Senator Hancock said the committee would prepare concurrent resolutions for the legislature; Major General Thomas Selser, the adjutant general, was identified in the meeting record as the committee secretary and will “ensure that all legislative requirements are in order so that the office of the governor can formally present the award to the person or persons selected or to their surviving family members,” per the panel’s statements.

The committee recessed subject to the call of the chair after making and recording its nominations. The nominations now proceed under the legislative process described by the panel for concurrent resolution and governor presentation.