HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 27

(By Delegates Smirl, Leach, Hubbard, Morgan, Craig,

Stephens, Azinger, Perdue and R. Thompson)


[Introduced March 19, 2001; referred to the

Committee on Rules.]



Naming the bridge located at Route sixty and Merrick Creek Road the "Hershel Woody Williams Bridge" as a modest token of gratitude from the people of this state for the heroic deeds taken in defense of life, liberty and freedom by a United States Marine.

Whereas, Hershel Woody Williams is the last surviving medal of honor recipient from the state of West Virginia who served our country in World War II where he served gallantly, selflessly, and without concern for his own personal safety in the Pacific Theater at Iwo Jima; and
Whereas, On the twenty-third day of February, one thousand nine hundred forty-five, while at Iwo Jima fighting against a fiercely entrenched and fanatical enemy, then, United States Marine Corporal Williams volunteered to open a lane through a staunchly well-armed enemy position of reinforced concrete pillboxes that had seemed impregnable, even to United States tanks; and
Whereas, He stealthily, doggedly and desperately struggled for four hours, under persistent and terrible enemy gun fire, back and forth between enemy lines and allied positions in order to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers in an effort to destroy and neutralize enemy forces; and
Whereas, On that aforesaid day in February the valor he exhibited on behalf of this country and fellow servicemen included one instance when he daringly mounted a pillbox and inserted the nozzle of his flamethrower through an air vent, thereby permanently silencing the machine gun fire that had so menacingly emanated from that position and, another instance, when he grimly confronted Japanese soldiers bearing rifles with mounted bayonets and defeated them with a burst from his flamethrower; and
Whereas, Past Governor Jay Rockefeller, in a tribute to this remarkable valor demonstrated on the battlefield, previously designated the name of said bridge the "Hershel Woody Williams Bridge" but no legislative action was taken in order to officially implement the name change; and
Whereas, Corporal Williams' aforesaid actions at Iwo Jima are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Marine Corps and reflect credit upon himself, his country, the Marine Corps, and this state; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the bridge located at Route sixty and Merrick Creek Road is hereby named the "Hershel Woody Williams Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner is requested to have made and be placed, at either end of the bridge, signs identifying the bridge "Hershel Woody Williams Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby requested to forward a copy of this resolution to the headquarters of the United States Marine Corps in Washington, D.C. and to the West Virginia State Department of Highways.