Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 63 History
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 63
(By Delegates Cadle and Butler)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 27-62-
20.53 on Route 62 in Point Pleasant, Mason County, the "US
Army SFC James Edward Duncan Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, SFC James Edward Duncan was born on July 11, 1940, a
son of the late Dale and Delphia Duncan of Point Pleasant, Mason
County, West Virginia, and a brother to Dale, Dickie, Jack, Don,
Rex, Kathy and Linda; and
Whereas, SFC James Edward Duncan attended Point Pleasant High
School and enlisted in the United States Army on December 2, 1958;
and
Whereas, SFC James Edward Duncan was married to the former
Janice Kinnaird and they were the parents of two sons, James Albert
and Mark Edward, and two daughters, Stacy Lynn and Pamela June, and
the grandparents of Jason, Jamie and Jordan Duncan; Joseph, Cory
and Dustin Duncan; Cody and Lane Sparks; and Tyler and Erica
Lavender; and
Whereas, SFC James Edward Duncan distinguished himself by
gallantry in action on numerous occasions and was awarded the
Purple Heart on December 17, 1966, the Bronze Star on April 28, 1967, the Silver Star on November 22, 1969, the Bronze Star with 1st
Oak Leaf Cluster on November 19, 1970, and an Army Commendation
Medal on November 23, 1970. In addition, SFC Duncan received the
Combat Infantry Badge; Good Conduct Medal; Good Conduct Medal with
1st Loop; Good Conduct Medal with 2nd Loop; South Vietnamese Ranger
Badge; South Vietnamese Meritorious Unit Award; Senior Parachutist
Badge; National Defense Service Medal; Sharpshooters Badge with
bars for Rocket Launcher Badge, Automatic Rifle, Rifle and Mortar;
Vietnam Service Medal and the Vietnam Campaign Medal; and
Whereas, On March 3, 1971, SFC James E. Duncan was serving as
a Light Weapons Infantry Advisor to the 22d Ranger Battalion, 2d
Ranger Group, conducting a reinforced search and destroy operation
southwest of Ben Het in Kontum Province, an area frequently
referred to as the "Parrot's Beak," when a hostile enemy attack was
launched on the Ranger Battalion; and
Whereas, An accurate mortar attack was directed at the
battalion command element and SFC James E. Duncan disregarded his
own personal safety to determine the direction from which the
attack was being launched; and
Whereas, As a result, SFC James E. Duncan was severely wounded
yet he continued to provide assistance to the Battalion Senior
Advisor in locating the enemy and assisted immeasurably in the
requisition and direction of helicopter gunships and airstrikes
against the enemy positions until the battalion was able to organize a counterattack; and
Whereas, Evacuation of the wounded started as soon as contact
with the enemy was broken, but SFC James Edward Duncan died before
he could be evacuated; and
Whereas, In the chaos of battle, the ARVN commander determined
their position was no longer tenable and, under intense fire,
ordered the surviving patrol to pull back. The Rangers attempted
to carry the bodies of their dead and wounded with them, but the
fighting was so intense, they found it necessary to inter the
remains of the deceased in shallow graves before breaking contact
with the advancing communist force; and
Whereas, It is unfortunate, but a reality of war, that the
remains of SFC James Edward Duncan were left behind out of the
necessity to protect the lives of the team who served with him; and
Whereas, The name of SFC James Edward Duncan is listed with
honor among the missing because his remains cannot be buried with
honor at home; and
Whereas, For gallantry in action on March 3, 1971, SFC James
Edward Duncan was posthumously awarded the Silver Star with 1st Oak
Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart with 1st Oak Leaf Cluster, and the
Bronze Star with 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper, that US Army SFC James
Edward Duncan be remembered and acknowledged for his courageous
action and dedicated service to his country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name
bridge number 27-62-20.53 on Route 62 in Point Pleasant, Mason
County, the "US Army SFC James Edward Duncan 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 "US Army SFC James Edward Duncan 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 and to the surviving family of SFC James
Edward Duncan.