HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 127

(By Delegates  R. Thompson, Hicks, Rodighiero and Evans)

[Introduced February 29, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 50-152 / 00-34.00, locally known as Doctor Doctor Bridge, carrying WV Route 152 over Twelvepole Creek in Wayne County, the “U. S. Army PFC Carl. J. Osburn Bridge”.

Whereas, Carl J. Osborn was drafted into the United States Army and reported for examination on July 23, 1943, and later was assigned for training at Fort Thomas and Fort McClellan. Eventually, Carl Osburn was assigned to 30th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, and dispatched to Europe aboard a Liberty Ship; and

Whereas, After a total journey of 21 days, Carl Osborn landed at Anzio, Italy, where he soon encountered two other soldiers who also came from Wayne County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Carl Osburn was wounded in his hip in May 1944, but later returned to active service. After training for an amphibious assault, his unit made an invasion of southern France and eventually made their way to Alsace-Lorraine; and

Whereas, On January 23, 1945, the battalion commander ordered the men across the Ill River on a wooden bridge. As American vehicles followed along behind, the bridge collapsed, trapping Carl Osburn and the others on the far side of the river. He and the others walked along the road until they spotted a German tank coming their direction. They dove into a ditch alongside the road and attempted to hide, but it was no use. The tank stopped near them, and a German soldier approached them, demanding they put up their hands. With no escape route, Carl Osburn and the others did as they were told. In total, between 75 and 100 Americans were captured. The captives were marched across the river to a town near the German border called Jebsheim. There they were loaded into cattle cars and shipped to Ludwigsburg, Germany and placed in a POW camp. Osburn later reported that, while stationed in the camp, the prisoners were not beaten; however, the food situation was bad. The men were fed barley soup twice a day; and

Whereas, After the area was bombed several months later, the Americans were assembled into two columns and force-marched across southern Germany from April 1 until April 26. While on the march on April 12, the German soldiers notified the men that President Roosevelt had died. On the night of April 26. they were finally allowed to rest in an empty dairy barn for one night. On the morning of April 27, 1945, the POWs heard American vehicles coming up the road near the barn and were thrilled to see jeeps when they came in sight. Carl Osburn and the other prisoners were liberated. He was put on a C-47 and taken to a hospital in Le Havre, France where he was placed on a strict diet due to his emaciated condition. He remained in the hospital until June 9, 1945, before being sent back to the United States on a 72-day furlough. Carl Osburn arrived by train at the Huntington Depot where he was greeted by several family members and was able to spend his furlough at home with family in Booton, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Following his furlough, Carl Osburn finished out his service first in Miami Beach and then in San Francisco. After completing this service, Carl Osburn traveled back across the country, mustered out of active duty, and returned home at last. Since that time, Carl. J. Osburn has spent his life in Wayne County, West Virginia and continues to serve his community and the membership of his church; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate former Prisoner of War, U.S. Army PFC Carl. J. Osburn, and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 50-152 / 00-34.00, locally known as Doctor Doctor Bridge, carrying WV Route 152 over Twelvepole Creek in Wayne County, the “U. S. Army PFC Carl. J. Osburn Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army PFC Carl. J. Osburn Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.