HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 118

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, and Delegates Manchin,

Romine, Trump and Michael)




Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on U. S. Route 50 at Smithburg the "General John Craddock Bridge."

Whereas, General Bantz John Craddock was born and raised in Doddridge County, West Virginia, and graduated from Doddridge County High School and West Virginia University; and
Whereas, General Craddock assumed command of the United States Southern Command on November 9, 2004, was commissioned as an Armor officer upon graduation from West Virginia University and was, after completion of the Armor Officer Advanced Course, assigned to the 3d Armored Division, commanding a tank company in the 1st Battalion 32nd Armor; and Whereas, In September 1981, General Craddock was reassigned to the Office of the Program Manager, Abrams Tank Systems in Warren, Michigan, as a Systems Analyst and later as Executive Officer, joined the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany, serving as the Executive Officer of the 4th Battalion 69th Armor for two years and was subsequently reassigned to the Division Headquarters as the Deputy G-3, Operations; andWhereas, In May 1989, General Craddock assumed command of the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor 24th Infantry Division (Mechanized) at Fort Stewart, Georgia, commanded the Tuskers for 26 months, deploying to Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, was the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, Operations, for the 24th Division, attended the U.S. Army War College, graduating in 1993, assumed command of the 194th Separate Armored Brigade at Fort Knox and was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3, for III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas; and Whereas, In 1996, General Craddock was reassigned to the Joint Staff in the Pentagon as an Assistant Deputy Director in J-5, joined the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) in Germany as the Assistant Division Commander for Maneuver, was designated as Commander of U.S. Forces for the initial entry operation into Kosovo; was reassigned as the Commanding General of the 7th Army Training Command, U.S. Army Europe, assumed command of the 1st Infantry Division (Mechanized) - the "Big Red One" and has since August 2002, served as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense; and Whereas, General Craddock has attended numerous Army schools and training programs and holds a Master's degree in Military Arts and Sciences and his decorations include the Valorous Unit Award, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Defense Superior Service Medal w/ 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters and the Bronze Star; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways name the bridge on U. S. Route 50 at Smithburg the "General John Craddock Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and placed on the bridge signs identifying it as the "General John Craddock Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and General John Craddock.