HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 70

(By Delegates Atkinson, Westfall and J. Kelly)

[Introduced February 7, 2020]

Requesting the Division of Highways name a 1.7 mile stretch of highway, beginning at the intersection of Route 20/1 and County Route 20, also known as Mulberry Ridge Road, in Roane County, West Virginia, the “U. S. Army Air Corps Private Albert J. Sutphin Memorial Highway”.

Whereas, Albert J. Sutphin was born on July 7, 1920, in Spencer, West Virginia, the son of Albert Lee Sutphin and Lillie Frances Nelson Sutphin; and

Whereas, Following high school, Albert J. Sutphin married Doris Pauline Morehead Sutphin, had two children, Laura June and Joseph Lee Sutphin, and was employed as a welder; and

Whereas, Albert J. Sutphin enlisted in the United States Army on April 13, 1943, in Huntington, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Albert J. Sutphin served as a Private, 32nd Photographic Squadron, 5th Reconnaissance Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II; and

Whereas, Albert J. Sutphin was a passenger on the S.S. Paul Hamilton (Hull Number 227) for her fifth voyage that left from Hampton Roads, Virginia on April 2, 1944, as part of convoy UGS 38, carrying supplies and the ground personnel of the 485th Bombardment Group and the 5th Reconnaissance Group of the United States Army Air Forces to Italy; and

Whereas, On the evening of April 20, 1944, the S.S. Paul Hamilton and other ships in the convoy were attacked 30 miles (48 km) in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Cape Bengut near Algiers by 23 German Ju 88 Bombers; and

Whereas, A single aerial torpedo struck the S.S. Paul Hamilton and detonated the cargo of high explosives and bombs, and the ship and crew disappeared within 30 seconds, with a total of approximately 580 men lost at sea; and

Whereas, Albert J. Sutphin was declared “Missing in Action” in the sinking of the Paul Hamilton during World War II, and was awarded the Purple Heart, Service Number 35657888; and

Whereas, The U.S.S. Landsdale (DD-426) and the S.S. Royal Star were also sunk in the April 20, 1944, attack, with an additional loss of approximately 47 men, and the Landsdale received four battle stars for World War II service; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Private Albert J. Sutphin and his contributions to our nation and state; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name a 1.7 mile stretch of highway, beginning at the intersection of Route 20/1 and County Route 20, also known as Mulberry Ridge Road, in Roane County, West Virginia, the “U. S. Army Air Corps Private Albert J. Sutphin Memorial Highway”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs containing bold and prominent letters identifying a 1.7 mile stretch highway, beginning at the intersection of Route 20/1 and County Route 20, as the “U. S. Army Air Corps Private Albert J. Sutphin Memorial Highway”; 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.