HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 94


(By Delegates Staton and Browning)



Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge numbered 1.13 over Slab Fork Creek on State Route 54 the "Lieutenant William P. Patton Memorial Bridge" and the bridge numbered 1.25 over Slab Fork Creek, both being in Mullens, West Virginia, the "Captain Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Lieutenant Patton, 1939, and Captain Feller, 1938, were both graduates of Mullens High School. The Mullens High School National Honor Society adopted their name as the "Feller- Patton National Honor Society" after learning of their being killed in action during World War II; and
Whereas , Lieutenant William "Bill" Patton was an outstanding football and basketball player at Mullens High School. After graduation, he attended V.P.I. at Blacksburg, VA beginning in 1939 and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 1943; and
Whereas , After a year of training, he was assigned to the U.S. Army 106th Infantry Division. In May 1944, he sailed for Europe and joined the Third Army in Southern France under the command of General George S. Patton. In December of 1944, with the Third Army, "Bill" Patton was promoted to First Lieutenant when the 106th Division went to Luxembourg and Belgaum during the "Battle of the Bulge"; and
Whereas , On December 19, 1944, a German 88 shell explosion wounded First Lieutenant "Bill" Patton. Before being discharged from the hospital, Lt. Patton volunteered to return to his division; and
Whereas , Lt. William P. Patton was awarded the Silver Star for outstanding bravery when, as company commander, he lead his company in an advance to relieve Americans surrounded at the City of Bastgon ; and
Whereas , On December 26, 1944, Lt. William P. Patton was killed by a German bullet while leading his company across a snow-covered field in Belgium; and
Whereas, Upon graduation from Mullens High School, Captain Charles H. Feller enrolled in the College of Engineering with West Virginia University. Where, after completing his Junior year, he received a civilian pilot training lesson at the Morgantown Airport; and
Whereas , In August of 1941, Charles H. Feller enlisted in the Army Air Corps "Flying Cadet" pilot training before the United States entered World War II and before he was old enough to register for the draft; and
Whereas , On March 1, 1942, Charles H. Feller completed his pilot training, received his wings, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant two weeks before he turned the age of 21; and
Whereas , As a fighter pilot of a P-40, Charles H. Feller was sent with his group to Panama and Guatemala and, upon returning to the United States, was promoted to First Lieutenant and helped train and form a fighter group flying the P-47 "Thunderbird"; and
Whereas , In January of 1944, Charles H. Feller sailed for Europe and joined the 8th Air Force, where he was promoted to Captain and became Commander of the 375th Fighter Squadron; and
Whereas , While escorting bombers as a fighter pilot, Captain Charles H. Feller was accredited with shooting down three German airplanes and disabling two on the ground; and
Whereas , Charles H. Feller was awarded with two Air Medals and the Distinguished Flying Cross; and
Whereas , On April 27, 1944, Captain Feller's plane was hit by a German ground fired shell while strafing an airfield 30 miles south of Paris, France; and
Whereas , Captain Feller's was reported to have been given an "honorable military funeral" by the German Air Force prior to being buried in a civilian cemetery near the town of Etamps, France; and
Whereas , Captain Feller's body was later brought home and buried in Arlington National Cemetery and is believed to be the highest ranking soldier from Wyoming County that was killed during World War II; therefore, be itResolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways to name the bridge numbered 1.13 over Slab Fork Creek on State Route 54 the "Lieutenant William P. Patton Memorial Bridge" and the bridge numbered 1.25 over Slab Fork Creek, both being in Mullens, West Virginia, the "Captain Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge" ; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested to have made and placed on the bridges signs identifying them as the "Lieutenant William P. Patton Memorial Bridge" and the "Captain Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge", respectively ; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the remaining family of the heroes of this resolution.