HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 61

(By Delegates Dittman, Mazzocchi, Moore, and Rohrbach)

[Introduced January 31, 2024; referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then Rules]

Requesting the Division of Highways name Bridge Numbers: 04-079/00-046.18  (NB & SB) (04A103, 04A104)  , (38.61716, -80.95085) locally known as SERVIA ICHG N & S, carrying IS 79 over Co 11 in Braxton County, the "Mollohan Brothers Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Orval Robert Mollohan was born on December 30. 1921, in Duck, Braxton County, West Virginia.  His brother George Dana Mollohan was born September 10, 1923, in Duck, Braxton County, West Virginia.  Their parents were Thurman Roy Mollohan and Hallie Alma (Hill) Mollohan. Orval enlisted in the U. S. Army and George enlisted in the U. S Navy prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  A third brother, Carl Thurmon Mollohan served in the U. S. Army; and

Whereas, Orval Robert Mollohan was listed as missing in action on May 7, 1942, and killed June 28, 1942, at age 21 while serving in the 31^st Infantry as a private first class. He was involved in the Battle of Bataan, survived the Bataan Death March but died in captivity, along with hundreds of US Infantrymen, at Camp O'Donnell while a prisoner of war. He is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial; and

Whereas, George Dana Mollohan was listed as missing in action on April; 17, 1942; and declared dead January 14, 1946.  He served in the U.S. Navy and was a Torpedoman’s Mate, second class on the USS Trout (SS202) which was destroyed sometime after 16 February 1944 after refueling at Midway and beginning a patrol of the western Pacific. Neither the Trout nor any of the crew have been recovered. George is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial, Courts of the Missing in Honolulu, Hawaii, and

Whereas, Carl Thurmon Mollohan was the sole surviving son, and was released from duty once his second brother, George, was listed as Missing in Action and presumed dead; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate the Mollohan Brothers and their 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 Numbers: 04-079/00-046.18  (NB & SB) (04A103, 04A104)  , (38.61716, -80.95085) locally known as SERVIA ICHG N & S, carrying IS 79 over Co 11 in Braxton County, the "Mollohan Brothers Memorial 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 "Mollohan Brothers Memorial 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.