SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 14

(By Senators Jeffries, Azinger, Cline, Facemire, Ojeda, Palumbo, Plymale, Romano, Smith, Sypolt, Weld, Woelfel, Stollings and Beach)

[Introduced February 15, 2017]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 40-10-1.70 (40A008), (38.62608) (-81.94803), locally known as Oldaker Bridge, carrying County Route 10 over Eighteen Mile Creek in Putnam County, the “U. S. Army PVT Oren J. ‘Junior’ Johnson Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Oren J. “Junior” Johnson was born July 22, 1922, in Midway, Putnam County, West Virginia, to his parents William E. Johnson and Veralie Bell McAllister Johnson; and

Whereas, Until he entered into the United States Army, Junior worked as a farmhand. On January 6, 1943, at the age of twenty, Junior entered the United States Army in Huntington, West Virginia. He served in Company L 133rd Infantry at the rank of private as a rifleman; and

Whereas, PVT Johnson served in the European Theatre during World War II.  He served in campaigns in Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno and North-Appenines, Italy. In October 1944, PVT Johnson was wounded in action and lost his right arm and left leg; and

Whereas, PVT Johnson was awarded a Purple Heart. He also received European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Campaign Stars and the Honorable Service Lapel Button; and

Whereas, PVT Johnson was honorably discharged from the Army on June 18, 1945, at the Walter Reed General Hospital in Washington, D.C.  He resided in the Buffalo, West Virginia, area until the time of his death on June 23, 1993; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate his service and sacrifice 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 40-10-1.70 (40A008), (38.62608) (-81.94803), locally known as Oldaker Bridge, carrying County Route 10 over Eighteen Mile Creek in Putnam County, be named the “U. S. Army PVT Oren J. ‘Junior’ Johnson Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army PVT Oren J. ‘Junior’ Johnson Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.