\n World War II veteran Cpl. Don Graves holds the resolution after Tarrant County commissioners approved it on August 4, 2026. | Image by Matt Krause\/Facebook. <\/p>\n
Tarrant County commissioners unanimously approved a resolution<\/a> Tuesday honoring 101-year-old World War II veteran Cpl. Don Graves<\/strong>, but Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons (D-Precinct 2) called the measure \u201cpartisan and divisive\u201d because it also condemned socialism and communism.<\/p>\n Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause (R-Precinct 3) introduced the measure, formally titled \u201cResolution Recognizing Corporal Don Graves for his Defense of Liberty and for His Role in Defeating Socialism and Related Ideologies.\u201d<\/p>\n The resolution credited Graves with fighting socialism, communism, authoritarianism and fascism during the 36-day Battle of Iwo Jima. It also declared the commissioner\u2019s court\u2019s opposition to \u201cthe evils of socialism in all its forms\u201d and any implementation of socialism in the United States.<\/p>\n The document states that Graves enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at 17, carried a 72-pound flamethrower onto Iwo Jima at 19 and was among 18 surviving members of his 335-man unit when he left the island.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat an honor and privilege it was to present Corporal Don Graves with a resolution today thanking him for his incredible service in World War 2,\u201d Krause wrote<\/a> after the meeting. \u201cDon was involved in the battle of Iwo Jima and served as a flamethrower.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe resolution also said how dangerous and evil the ideologies of socialism and communism (among others) are to society,\u201d Krause wrote. \u201cToday in Tarrant County we boldly proclaimed that we reject socialism and it has no place in our county.\u201d<\/p>\n Simmons seeks to strip ideological language<\/p>\n Simmons moved during the meeting<\/a> to replace the resolution\u2019s ideological language with text focused on Graves\u2019 military service. When Krause asked which portion she found objectionable, Simmons responded<\/a>, \u201cThe entire resolution.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am not endorsing the historical inaccuracies, the conflation of distinct ideologies, or the present-day political commentary that you have added to this resolution,\u201d Simmons said. \u201cIt\u2019s partisan and divisive.\u201d<\/p>\n The amendment failed 3-2. Tarrant County Judge Tim O\u2019Hare (R-Tarrant County), Krause and Commissioner Manny Ramirez (R-Precinct 4) opposed it. Simmons and Commissioner Roderick Miles Jr. (D-Precinct 1) supported the change. All five members then approved the original resolution.<\/p>\n Simmons later said<\/a> she wanted to remove \u201cdivisive, partisan language\u201d and replace it with an \u201chonest, dignified tribute\u201d to Graves\u2019 service.<\/p>\n The Dallas Express reached out to Simmons for additional comment about her objections but did not receive a response before publication.<\/p>\n Democrats distance themselves from socialism<\/p>\n The Tarrant County debate comes as some Democratic lawmakers and candidates have publicly distanced themselves from socialism. As previously reported<\/a> by The Dallas Express, 13 Democratic House members and candidates signed a centrist initiative called Promise to America<\/a>, which declares, \u201cWe are capitalist, not socialist.\u201d The pledge also calls for secure borders, fiscal responsibility and national pride.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"World War II veteran Cpl. 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