HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 38
(By Delegate Wells,
and All Other Members of the House )
Naming the bridge over 40th Street in the Town of Nitro on
Interstate 64 between mile posts 45 and 46 in memory of Staff
Sergeant Robert F. White.
Whereas, Robert F. White was born on February 20, 1971, in
Cross Lanes, West Virginia, and later graduated from Nitro High
School; and
Whereas, Robert F. White enlisted in the United States Army and
received basic combat training and advanced individual training at
Fort Benning, Georgia; and
Whereas, After honorably completing his original enlistment
commitment, he reenlisted and was assigned to various locations,
including Camp Greaves in South Korea where he served as a Squadron
Leader with Bravo Company, first Battalion, 506
th Infantry, 2
nd
Division, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant; and
Whereas, Staff Sergeant Robert F. White's last assignment was
to Alpha Company, 1
st Battalion, 325
th Airborne Infantry Regiment,
82
nd Airborne, where he held the position of Weapons Squadron Leader
and was deployed in support of "Task Force Gun Devil" to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan; and
Whereas, Staff Sergeant White, while in Kandahar Province in
Afganhistan, led his squadron on numerous joint United States and
Afghanistan company missions and combat patrols on which he
displayed uncommon leadership and valor resulting in the capture of
anti-coalition forces as well as improvised explosive devices,
other weapons and drug caches; and
Whereas, On the 26
th day of September, 2005, Staff Sergeant
White, while in the prime of his life and in the line of duty for
this country, was mortally wounded by enemy forces - paying the
ultimate price, leaving behind his beloved wife, Cathy and his
beloved son, Zachary; and
Whereas, This truly patriotic man has been recognized for his
exceptionally meritorious service, tireless work, dedication to the
mission and professional excellence in service to his country - in
support of "Operation Enduring Freedom" as well as many other
compellingly essential missions to the security of our nation,
receiving variously the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star, the
Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army
Good Conduct Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the National
Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Korean
Defense Service Medal and a multitude of other commendations for
his exceptional dedication and service; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the bridge over 40
th Street in the Town of Nitro on
Interstate 64 between mile posts 45 and 46 be named the "Staff
Sergeant Robert F. White Bridge" in memory of this dedicated
patriot who paid the ultimate price for his country; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby
directed to erect signs at the entrance of each end of the subject
bridge, proclaiming the name of the bridge in prominent lettering
as "The Staff Sergeant Robert F. White Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this Resolution to Staff Sergeant
White's wife Cathy and son Zachary White of Hope Mills, North
Carolina, his parents, Stan and Shirley White of Cross Lanes, West
Virginia, his brothers, William H. White, Jr. Of Hampton, Virginia,
and Andrew White of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, his sisters,
Phyllis White-Sellards of Huntington, West Virginia, Christina
White of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, his paternal grandmother, Eva
Mae White of Chesapeake, West Virginia, and to the Division of
Highways.