HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 14
(By Delegates Smith and Hamilton)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name Bridge No. 49-11/17-
0.02, located on County Route 11/17 in Selbyville, Upshur
County the "Corporal William Dely Memorial Bridge."
Whereas, Corporal William Dely was born on May 26, 1946 in
Green Cove Springs, and reared and educated in Upshur County, the
son of Earl and Ivy Crum Bragg; and
Whereas, Corporal William Dely was sworn into the United States
Marine Corps while still a senior at Buckhannon-Upshur High School
in 1964, and eventually rose to the rank of Corporal; and
Whereas, Corporal William Dely was serving as an amphibian
tractor driver as part of the First Amphibian Tractor Battalion, E1
Platoon, H&S Company, Third Marine Division in Da Nang, South
Vietnam; and
Whereas, One of Corporal William Dely's duties in serving his
country was to destroy with explosives the many caves and tunnels
where hostile forces hid; and
Whereas, Corporal William Dely was tragically killed on June
13, 1966, as a result of multiple fragmentation wounds to the body
sustained while participating in an operation against hostile forces; and
Whereas, Corporal William Dely became the second son of Upshur
County to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country during the
conflict in Vietnam; and
Whereas, Corporal William Dely left his parents, a step-brother
James Bragg of Akron, Ohio, and a step-sister Dorothy Adams of
Richwood; and
Whereas, The ultimate sacrifice of this brave and courageous
son of Upshur County, West Virginia, requires us to honor Corporal
William Dely, by ensuring that future generations are aware of his
sacrifice in the cause of freedom; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby request the Division of Highways
to name bridge number 49-11/17-0.02, located on County Route 11/17
in Selbyville, Upshur County the "Corporal William Dely Memorial
Bridge;" and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
requested to have made and placed on the bridge, signs identifying
it as the "Corporal William Dely Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Secretary of
Transportation, the Commissioner of the Division of Highways, and
the family of Corporal William Dely.