COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 40

By Delegates Sponaugle, Campbell, C. Thompson, Angelucci, Caputo, Barrett, Staggers, Hartman, Hott, Rowan, Lavender-Bowe, Boggs, N. Brown, S. Brown, and Diserio

(Originating in the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure
February 25, 2019)

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 16-55-11.40 (16A136), locally known as U. S. 220 Connector Bridge, carrying West Virginia Route 55 over South Valley Branch Railroad and Dumpling Run in Hardy County, the “U. S. Army CAPT William H. Denney, Jr. Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, William H. Denney was born November 6, 1939, in Washington, D. C.; and

Whereas, William H. Denney attended public schools in Moorefield, West Virginia and received the first scholarship from the Moorefield High School Scholarship Fund to attend college; and

Whereas, William H. Denney used the scholarship he was awarded to attend West Virginia University until he cut his education short to enter active U. S. Army service during an Army Reserve call up for a crisis in Berlin; and

Whereas, William H. Denney rose through the ranks as a noncommissioned officer and a commissioned officer to become Captain of Company D, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry of the 199^th Infantry Brigade; and

Whereas, Captain William H. Denney, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptional heroism, at the loss of his own life, in connection with ground operations against an armed hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, on 2 February 1969, while assigned to Company D, 2d Battalion, 3d Infantry, 199th Light Infantry Brigade; and

Whereas, On that day, Captain Denney was the Commanding Officer of Company D, which was in contact with a hostile enemy force; Captain Denney personally led his company in an attack on the hostile enemy force concealed in a fortified bunker complex; and

Whereas, Throughout the day-long battle, without regard for his own safety, Captain Denney constantly exposed himself to enemy fire moving around the battlefield, directing and encouraging his men; on several occasions, he personally led small elements of his command in daring assaults on enemy bunkers; and

Whereas, Late in the afternoon, an element of the company was pinned down by automatic weapons fire, Captain Denney made a daring run through a hail of enemy fire to reach a machine gun crew which he personally led to a position from which they could deliver suppressive fire; then, ignoring the heavy volume of enemy fire, he boldly crawled towards an enemy bunker; and

Whereas, While attempting to throw a hand grenade, he was badly wounded by automatic weapons fire and fell into a ditch. Captain Denney could have remained where he lay, shielded from enemy fire, but when he heard a member of his company who had been wounded earlier, cry for help, he crawled out of his protected position and without regard for his life crawled toward the ravine in which the man lay wound; as he reached the edge of the ravine, he reached out and told the man to take his hand; at that instant an enemy machine gun opened fire, fatally wounding this courageous leader; and

Whereas, Throughout the day, Captain Denney’s courage and leadership served as an example for all those with whom he fought. His valorous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 199th Light Infantry Brigade and the United States Army; and

Whereas, CAPT Denney was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on April 23, 1969, for his extraordinary heroism during military operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate CAPT William H. Denney, Jr. and his contributions to 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 16-55-11.40 (16A136), locally known as U. S. 220 Connector Bridge, carrying West Virginia Route 55 over South Valley Branch Railroad and Dumpling Run in Hardy County, the “U. S. Army CAPT William H. Denney, Jr. Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “U. S. Army Capt. William H. Denney, Jr. Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.