HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 8

(By Delegate R. Phillips, Eldridge, Marcum and Moffatt)

Requesting the Division of Highways to name a section of road on State Route 10, running through Man, Logan County, from the intersection of State Route 10 and State Route 80 to the intersection of State Route 10 and County Route 16, the "U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman Memorial Highway."

            Whereas, Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman was born in Lorado, West Virginia, on March 6, 1930 to Elbert Allen and Nawassa Craddock Whitman; and

            Whereas, Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman attended Man High School, where he lettered in football and graduated in 1947. He then attended Greenbrier Military Academy and Marshall College in Huntington, West Virginia; and

            Whereas, William Henry "Bill" Whitman enlisted in the United States Air Force on October 10, 1950. After completing training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, he was stationed at Yokota Air Base in Japan as a crew member of a B-29A Superfortress Bomber with the 345th Bomber Squadron, 98th Bomber Wing. On November 19, 1952, after completing a successful bomb run on Sonchon, North Korea, his aircraft was badly damaged by an enemy MiG. His crew bailed out a half mile north of Cho-do, North Korea. He was listed as Missing in Action and was presumed dead on November 20, 1953. His remains were not recovered; and

            Whereas, Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman was awarded the Air Medal, the Purple Heart, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal; and

            Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate his service and ultimate sacrifice to his country; therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a section of road on WV Route 10, running through Man on WV Route 10, Logan County, the "U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman Memorial Highway."; and, be it

            Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the section of road containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the road the "U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman Memorial Highway"; 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 the late Staff Sergeant William Henry "Bill" Whitman.