HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 21
(By Delegates Smirl, Howard, Sobonya, Perdue and R. Thompson)
[Introduced January 31, 2003; referred to the
Committee on Rules.]
Naming the bridge that crosses from Cabell County to Wayne County
over Four Pole Creek on Route 60 the "Colonel Justice M.
Chambers Memorial Bridge."
Whereas, Justice M. Chambers, a native of Huntington, West
Virginia, where he attended Marshall College in the 1920s, served
with uncommon distinction in the United States Marine Corpse from
1929 to 1946, being seriously wounded in combat on three separate
occasions during World War II;; and
Whereas, Exhibiting conspicuous gallantry at the risk of his
life, above and beyond the call of duty as Commanding Officer of
the Third Assault Battalion Landing Team, Twenty-fifth Marines,
Fourth Marine Division, Colonel Chambers, in February 1945, while
seriously wounded, led an eight hour battle against fierce Japanese
resistance at Iwo Jima after landing on the island in a furious
barrage of enemy machine gun fire; and
Whereas, As a direct result of Colonel Chambers forceful
leadership, courage and fortitude in the face of staggering odds,
wherein he inspired the men around him to uncommon acts of bravery
as well, a vital foothold on the island was protected, thus leading to the success of subsequent operations of the Fifth Amphibious
Corps on Iwo Jima; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers, in accordance with his heroic acts
on the battlefield was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in
1946 by President Harry S. Truman; and
Whereas, In total, Colonel Chambers, in addition to the Medal
of Honor, received the silver star and Legion of Merit with Combat
"V", Purple Heart with two gold stars, Presidential Unit Citation
with three bronze stars, Marine Corps Reserve Medal with two stars,
American Defense Service Medal with silver star (denoting five
campaigns) and the World War II Victory Medal; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers, was appointed in 1962 by then
President John F. Kennedy to the post of Deputy Director of the
Office of Emergency Planning, where he served with distinction
until his retirement therefrom; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers passed away on July 29, 1982, at the
age of seventy-four; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers, a distinguished native son, has
bequeathed a legacy to the citizens of this State embodying the
finest traditions of United States Military and civilian service to
this country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That Colonel Justice M. Chambers is hereby honored by naming
the bridge that crosses from Cabell County to Wayne County over Four Pole Creek on Route 60 the "Colonel Justice M. Chambers
Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved,
That the Legislature hereby requests the
West Virginia Division of Highways to name
the bridge that crosses
from Cabell County to Wayne County on Route 60 the "Colonel Justice
M. Chambers Memorial Bridge" by placing signs at each end of the
bridge bearing that inscription;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this Resolution to the Commissioner
of the Division of Highways, the Headquarters of the United States
Marine Corps in Washington, D.C., and to each of Colonel Chambers'
two nephews, Benjamin and Carter Chambers.