Senate Concurrent Resolution 31

By Senators Kirkendoll, Stollings, Stollings and Kessler
[Introduced February 10, 2016]

Requesting Division of Highways to name bridge number 23-12-0.05 (23A057) (37.87210, -81.98544), locally known as the “Peach Creek Bridge”, carrying CR-12 over Guyandotte River in Logan County, the “U. S. Air Force Staff Sgt Bethel Howard McNeely and U. S. Marine Staff Sgt Clyde Elmo Bryant Bridge”.

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely was born on January 1, 1922, at Peach Creek, West Virginia, the son of Manny and Mary McNeely of Peach Creek; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely was raised in Logan County and enlisted in the Air Force in September 1942.  He served with the 94th Bomb Group, 333rd Bomb Squadron from September 1942 until October 1945 as a Tail Gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress; and 

Whereas, During this time, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely flew on 26 missions into Germany and enemy-occupied territory; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Air Offensive Europe with Battle Star and the European, African and Middle East Theater Ribbons; and 

Whereas, Upon returning home, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely worked for C&O Railroad until he retired in 1985.  Today he resides at Crooked Creek in the home where he raised seven children.  His wife was a long time employee of the Logan County Board of Education, serving in the Payroll Office; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Bethel Howard McNeely is a member of the Crooked Creek Church of Christ and much loved in the community; and        

Whereas, United States Marine Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant enlisted in the service during World War II, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, when he heard of the attack on Pearl Harbor; and 

Whereas, After training at Cherry Point and Parris Island, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant was assigned to the Third Marine Division and shipped off to the Pacific.  He made beachhead landings at Guam, Bougainville and Iwo Jima, as well as on other smaller islands; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant was loading wounded Marines for transfer off the Island of Iwo Jima when the famous flag raising photo was taken by Joe Rosenthal; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation Award and Ribbon Bar for service on Guam, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the Victory Medal; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant returned home to Logan County at the end of World War II, married Lila Evelyn Wilson and took up residence at Crooked Creek.  He raised his four children on Crooked Creek; and 

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant was a watchmaker and jeweler and operated several businesses in the City of Logan.  He was a leader in the Crooked Creek Church of Christ and in many other community organizations.  He was a 32 degree Mason; and 

Whereas, In 1962, Staff Sergeant Clyde Elmo Bryant was again called to duty as a squad leader and Sergeant 1st class in the 150th Armored Cavalry when the West Virginia National Guard was called up during the “Cuban Missile Crisis”; therefore, be it 

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-12-0.05 (23A057) (37.87210, -81.98544), locally known as the “Peach Creek Bridge”, carrying CR-12 over Guyandotte River in Logan County, the “U. S. Air Force Staff Sgt Bethel Howard McNeely and U. S. Marine Staff Sgt Clyde Elmo Bryant 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. Air Force Staff Sgt Bethel Howard McNeely and U. S. Marine Staff Sgt Clyde Elmo Bryant 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, to the family of Howard McNeely and to the family of the late Clyde Bryant.