HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 7

(By Delegates Wallace, Rowe and Johnson)

Naming the U. S. Route 19 bridge, known as the "Hughes Bridge," over Summersville Lake (Gauley River) south of Summersville in Nicholas County, the "Ralph Eugene Pomeroy Memorial Bridge."

Whereas, Ralph Eugene Pomeroy was born in Quinwood, West Virginia, on March 26, 1930, and died on October 15, 1952 near Kumwha, Korea, as a Private First Class in the United States Army, while defending himself and his comrades of Company E, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division; and

Whereas, Private Ralph Eugene Pomeroy was placed to guard the flank of a strategic position and was thereupon placed under heavy enemy fire until a mortar rendered his stand inoperable, at which time Private Pomeroy cradled the hot and heavy machine gun in his arms and began advancing upon the enemy position. After the ammunition in his machine gun was expended, he used the machine gun as a club and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat until he was mortally wounded; and
Whereas, The valor of Ralph Eugene Pomeroy and his supreme sacrifice enabled his platoon to stop the attack and maintain their position; and
Whereas, Ralph Eugene Pomeroy was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his conspicuous gallantry and indomitable courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy; and
Whereas, Naming the bridge for Ralph Eugene Pomeroy seems apt and fitting for a native West Virginian and hero from this area; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the U. S. Route 19 bridge over Summersville Lake (Gauley River) south of Summersville in Nicholas County is hereby named the "Ralph Eugene Pomeroy Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, the Governor and the brothers and sisters of Ralph Eugene Pomeroy.