Committee Substitute
for
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 5
(By Senators Azinger, Stollings, and Lindsay)
[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; Reported January 19, 2022]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 54-068/00-009.73 (54A259), (39.19674, -81.65356) locally known as Race Track Bridge, carrying WV Route 68 over the North Fork of Lee Creek in Wood County, the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL James ‘Bud’ Cox Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, James “Bud” Cox was born on May 25, 1946, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, the son of James Blake Cox and Betty Jane Cox; and
Whereas, James “Bud” Cox and his lifelong friend, Joseph A. Memel, grew up playing under the bridge located at WV Route 68 South across from the local racetrack, which is now being replaced with the bridge being requested herein to be named in honor of James; and
Whereas, James “Bud” Cox graduated from Parkersburg High School with the Class of 1965. While in high school, he was a member of the woodworking club and a student in home room #120; and
Whereas, James “Bud” Cox and his friend, Joseph A. Memel, enlisted together in the U.S. Marine Corps on December 14, 1965. James “Bud” Cox took his boot camp training at Parris Island and infantry training at Camp Lejuene. He was stationed in Cuba before being issued orders for Vietnam; and
Whereas, When CPL James “Bud” Cox arrived in Vietnam on May 14, 1967, he was assigned to Weapons with 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division; and
Whereas, CPL James “Bud” Cox received shrapnel wounds to his leg from a mortar round on May 24, 1967, in the vicinity of Gio Linh District. He was medevacked to and recovered aboard the USS Princeton, and he returned to the field June 10, 1967; and
Whereas, On December 28, 1967, CPL James “Bud” Cox was serving as a machine gun squad leader with the E Company Weapons Platoon, 2nd Battalion 3rd Marines. Echo Company was conducting a sweep of Quang Nam Province when they made heavy contact with a large force with the North Vietnamese Army and he was fatally wounded by a mine/booby trap during combat at LZ Hawk, Bao An Dong, Go Noi Island, during Operation Auburn; and
Whereas, At the time of his death, CPL James “Bud” Cox was 21 years old and had served in Vietnam for seven months and 14 days; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Marine Corps CPL James “Bud” Cox and his sacrifice for our state and country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 54-068/00-009.73 (54A259), (39.19674, -81.65356) locally known as Race Track Bridge, carrying WV Route 68 over the North Fork of Lee Creek in Wood County, the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL James ‘Bud’ Cox Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U.S. Marine Corps CPL James “Bud” Cox Memorial Bridge”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.