HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4

(By Delegate Linville)

[Introduced February 11, 2021]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 06-049/00-008.51 () (06A239), locally known as the Decker Adkins Bridge, carrying County Road 49 over Madison Creek in Cabell County, the “U. S. Army PFC Herman H. Lucas Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Herman H. Lucas was born on June 24, 1920, in Salt Rock, in Cabell County, West Virginia to Garland and Rosetta Lucas and he grew up helping to tend his family’s farm near Madison Creek; and

Whereas, Herman H. Lucas enlisted in the United States Army in 1941, joining the 147th Infantry, attained the rank of Private First Class, and he was assigned to the Pacific Theater when World War II began; and

Whereas, PFC Lucas served valiantly in several major conflicts in the Pacific Theater, including Guadalcanal where he was wounded by mortar fire, the Philippines, and at Iwo Jima; and

Whereas, During the Battle of Iwo Jima, which PFC Lucas later described as “inhumane...of all the fighting and dying I’ve seen, this is the worst,” he took over his platoon upon the death of their squad leader when they were assigned a special mission to take out a heavily fortified position; this assignment took a horrible toll upon the platoon with intense fighting leaving them cut off and without food or water for three days and the loss 27 of the 29 men in the unit; and

Whereas, PFC Lucas was awarded the Purple Heart medal for his injuries, and the Bronze Star for his heroic service in combat and he also was decorated with the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, the American Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal; and

Whereas, Following the conclusion of World War II, PFC Lucas returned to West Virginia where he married Thelma Virginia Sloan and they raised three children, Elizabeth, Harold, and David Lucas, and eventually they had five grandchildren - Margaret, Christopher, Jared, Trenton, and Jenna; and

Whereas, Herman L. Lucas became an ordained minister and performed in various gospel groups, preaching and performing throughout southern West Virginia for over 50 years; and

Whereas, Herman L. Lucas passed away at the age of 92 at the home of his son, Harold, in Kentucky on December 31, 2012 ; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate PFC Herman L. Lucas 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 06-049/00-008.51 () (06A239), locally known as the Decker Adkins Bridge, carrying County Road 49 over Madison Creek in Cabell County, the “U. S. Army PFC Herman H. Lucas 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. Army PFC Herman H. Lucas Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

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