SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 26
(By Senators Facemyer and Smith)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the new bridge from
Pomeroy, Ohio, to Mason, West Virginia, the "Bridge of Honor"
in memory of General James V. Hartinger and Staff Sergeant
Jimmy G. Stewart and requesting the Division of Highways also
name the road leading to the bridge in West Virginia in memory
of Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart.
Whereas, General James V. Hartinger was born in Middleport,
Ohio, in 1925. He graduated from high school in Middleport in 1943
and was drafted into the U. S. Army in July, 1943. He attained the
rank of Sergeant while serving in the infantry. After World War
II, he entered the U. S. Military Academy, West Point, New York,
and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Air Force. He
was assigned to the 36th Fighter-bomber Wing as a jet fighter pilot
at Furenfeldbruck Air Force Base, Germany. Subsequently, he
transferred to the 474th Fighter-bomber Wing at Kunsan Air Base,
South Korea, where he flew his first combat missions in F-84
Thunderjets. From December, 1966, to December, 1967, he was
assigned to Headquarters 7th Air Force at Tan Son Nhut Air Base,
Republic of Vietnam, during which he completed more than 100 aerial
combat missions. He was named Commander-in-Chief of the North
American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in 1979 and promoted to four-star General. He is known as the "Founding Father" of the Air
Force Space Command. The headquarters building at NORAD is named
the James Hartinger Building and the Hartinger Medal is awarded
annually for extraordinary achievement in space; and
Whereas, General Hartinger was a command pilot with more than
five thousand flying hours and was the first recipient of the
Master Space Badge. His military decorations and awards include:
The Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service
Medal (Air Force) with oak leaf cluster, Legion of Merit with oak
leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak
leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, Combat Readiness Medal
and the Republic of Korea Order of National Security Merit Tung II;
and
Whereas, General James V. Hartinger retired July 31, 1984,
after a distinguished military career that spanned five decades.
He continued to be active as an advisor and speaker on Air Force
and space matters until his death October 9, 2000; and
Whereas, Jimmy G. Stewart was born on December 25, 1942, in
West Columbia, Mason County; and
Whereas, Jimmy G. Stewart was killed May 8, 1966, in action in
Vietnam. A surprise early morning attack wounded five members of
a six-man squad in Company B of the 2/12 Cavalry Regiment which
left Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart alone against a Vietnamese
platoon. He emptied magazine after magazine of ammunition at the enemy force; and when grenades were thrown at Company B's position,
he retrieved the grenades and threw them back at the attacking
forces. Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart held his position through
three assaults
over four hours until reinforcements arrived.
Troops found the body of Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart in an
enemy foxhole where he had advanced to add fire in support of the
incoming reinforcements. The wounded members of his squad were
recovered and evacuated; and
Whereas, Jimmy G. Stewart, with conspicuous gallantry and
bravery, unselfishly gave his life to protect and save his wounded
squad members and comrades in arms; and
Whereas, Jimmy G. Stewart received, posthumously, this
nation's highest military award, the Congressional Medal of Honor,
"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of
his life above and beyond the call of duty"; and
Whereas, The lives, accomplishments and sacrifices of General
James V. Hartinger and Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart
should not
go unnoticed
; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
name the new bridge from Pomeroy, Ohio, to Mason, West Virginia,
the "Bridge of Honor" in memory of General James V. Hartinger and
Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart
and also hereby requests the
Division of Highways name the road leading to the bridge in West Virginia in memory of Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways provide and
erect a sign at either end of the bridge displaying the name
"Bridge of Honor", together with a sign naming the road leading to
the bridge in West Virginia displaying the name of Staff Sergeant
Jimmy G. Stewart; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby
directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
the Department of Transportation and to the surviving families of
General James V. Hartinger and Staff Sergeant Jimmy G. Stewart
.