COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 4(By Delegates Tomblin, R. Phillips and Marcum)

Requesting that bridge number 23-5-4.91 (23A018) on Route 5 in Logan County, West Virginia, the “U. S. Army Corporal Eldred Jennings Hensley Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Corporal Hensley was born in 1930 in Logan County; and

    Whereas, Corporal Hensley enlisted in the United States Army on November 4, 1948; and

    Whereas, Corporal Hensley was a member of Task Force Smith, Charlie Company, which contained the first U.S. elements to engage the North Korean Army after arriving on the peninsula from Japan. On July 5, 1950 the force was in its position just north of Osan blocking the north-south road running from Suwon to Taejon. One platoon from Bravo Company occupied a hilltop just west of the road and the other two platoons established positions east of the road. Immediately to their east Charlie Company, including Corporal Hensley, set up defensive positions that covered Bravo Company's flank and a railroad line running parallel to the road. This road was a major avenue of advance for the North Korean Army. The Task Force Smith occupied a mile-long line that included the shallow saddle formed by the two knolls held by the rifle companies. Where the road passed through this saddle and began to wind down to the valley floor, Task Force Smith made its initial stand. Despite the rain that morning the infantrymen detected a column of eight North Korean tanks moving south along the road from Suwon. The anti-tank weapons employed by the infantry were ineffective and soon more than thirty enemy tanks had passed through friendly lines, and were in the rear of the Task Force. By mid-day, North Korean infantry were overwhelming the last pockets of resistance taking many prisoners. That afternoon, in order to prevent its complete annihilation, the Task Force was ordered to withdraw to the south. The Task Force suffered its heaviest casualties during this withdrawal. The 1st Battalion of the 21st Infantry lost one hundred fifty-three men in the first twenty-four hours of fighting, including Corporal Hensley, by then a POW; and

    Whereas, Corporal Hensley made his way north by stages to Seoul and Pyongyang, and was then taken by train to Manpo on the south bank of the Yalu River in a mixed group of seven hundred fifty POWs and civilian internees. Exhaustion and malnutrition had begun to weaken the men and claim lives, and pneumonia became a constant menace. After several days at Manpo, the POWs were marched away to nearby villages to keep them from seeing Chinese troops marching into North Korea. They returned to Manpo in the last days of October 1950, and on October 3l began a long march to the so-called Apex Camps farther northeast. Companions recall that Corporal Hensley was mortally ill. On or about November 5, 1950, as the group was making its way over a mountain pass, Corporal Hensley fell along the wayside. Unable to continue, and possibly unconscious, he was reportedly shot by a North Korean guard as the group was forced to go on; and

    Whereas, The fate of Corporal Hensley, as well as many other soldiers, may have remained unknown had it not been for the actions Private First Class Wayne “Johnnie” Johnson who was captured by the North Korean Army in July 1950. During his time as a POW he clandestinely recorded the deaths of those around him. At the war’s end he smuggled his notes out in a toothpaste tube and was eventually awarded the Silver Star; and

    Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate this native son who gave the ultimate sacrifice for his state and his country; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-5-4.91 (23A018) on Route 5 in Logan County, West Virginia, the “U. S. Army Corporal Eldred Jennings Hensley Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “U. S. Army Corporal Eldred Jennings Hensley Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, his sister, Goldie Boyd, his nephew, Donald L. Tomblin, and Wayne “Johnnie” Johnson.