HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65

(By Delegates J. Nelson, Moffatt, Gearheart, R. Smith,

                        R. Phillips, Campbell, Hicks, Butler, Eldridge, Manchin and Boggs)

Requesting that bridge number 22-119-0.04 (22A103), latitude 38.18215, longitude -81.84941, on United States Route 119, heading southbound, otherwise known as the North Pinnacle Rock Creek Bridge, in Lincoln County, be named the "U.S. Army PFC Willie Paul Wilson Bridge".

            Whereas, Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson, known to his family and friends as "Jenkie," was born on November 11, 1925, in Julian, West Virginia, to John and Elsie Wilson; and

            Whereas, Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson enlisted in the United States Army on February 29, 1944, and was assigned to Company K, 1^st Platoon, 262^nd Regiment; and

            Whereas, Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson was killed on Christmas Eve of 1944 aboard the S. Leopoldville, a Belgian troopship being used in the English Channel to transport troops and supplies for the Allied war effort. On that evening, a German submarine torpedoed the S. Leopoldville when it was only five miles from the shore, killing at least eight hundred and two people in the most deadly tragedy to ever befall an American Infantry Division as the result of an enemy submarine attack; and

            Whereas, Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson was awarded the Purple Heart on June 30, 1945, for the wounds that resulted in his death; and

            Whereas, It is fitting that Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson be memorialized and honored for his great sacrifice in the area where he lived; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 22-119-0.04 (22A103), latitude 38.18215, longitude -81.84941, on United States Route 119, heading southbound, otherwise known as the North Pinnacle Rock Creek Bridge, in Lincoln County, the "U.S. Army PFC Willie Paul Wilson Bridge"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs identifying the bridge, heading southbound, as the "U.S. Army PFC Willie Paul Wilson Bridge"; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways and to the family of Private First Class Willie Paul Wilson.