HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION  6

(By Delegate Rowe, Robinson, and Estep-Burton)

[Introduced January 16, 2019]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 20-60-36.23 (20A160), locally known as US 60 Cedar Grove Overpass 3565 Bridge, carrying U. S. 60 over County Route 81, Kanawha County, the “U. S. Army PFC Earl Russell Cobb, SPC4 Carl Bradford Goodson, and SSGT George T. Saunders Jr. Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Earl Russell Cobb, known throughout his life as “Russell”, was born on October 24, 1946, and grew up in Kanawha County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Russell Cobb graduated from Cedar Grove High School in the Class of 1966; and

Whereas, Russell Cobb entered the United States Army to serve as a Private First Class in the 22nd Infantry Regiment of the 25th Infantry Division; and

Whereas, Private First Class Cobb was killed in action on September 4, 1967, just five months into his tour of duty and is now listed on panel 25E, line 96, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.; and

Whereas, Carl Bradford “Punkin” Goodson was born on October 14, 1948, and grew up in Kelly’s Creek outside of Cedar Grove, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Carl Bradford Goodson graduated from Cedar Grove High School in the Class of 1967 and was a member of the Church of God at Ward, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Carl Bradford Goodson served in the United States Army, Light Weapons Infantry, 101st Airborne Division with the rank of Specialist 4; and

Whereas, Specialist Goodson was killed in action on April 6, 1970, just five months into his tour of duty and is now listed on panel 12W, line 101, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and is buried in the Ward Cemetery at Ward, West Virginia; and

Whereas, George Thomas Saunders Jr. was born on February 28, 1942, and grew up in the community of Cedar Grove, West Virginia; and

Whereas, George Thomas Saunders Jr. graduated from Cedar Grove High School in the Class of 1959; and

Whereas, George Thomas Saunders Jr. joined the United States Army, served six years, and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant; and

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Saunders was posted to the First Military Police Company in the First Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam in 1965; and

Whereas, Staff Sergeant Saunders was killed in hostile fire on October 31, 1965, less than two weeks into his tour of duty and is now listed on panel 3E, line 10, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., and is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Cedar Grove, West Virginia; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring, local memorial be established to commemorate the service of Private Cobb, Specialist Goodson, and Sergeant Saunders and the sacrifice of three young men from the community of Cedar Grove, West Virginia; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 20-60-36.23 (20A160), locally known as U. S. 60 Cedar Grove Overpass 3565 Bridge, carrying U. S. 60 over County Route 81, Kanawha County, the “U. S. Army PFC Earl Russell Cobb, SPC4 Carl Bradford Goodson, and SSGT George T. Saunders 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 PFC Earl Russell Cobb, SPC4 Carl Bradford Goodson, and SSGT George T. Saunders 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.