Committee Substitute

for

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 4

(By Senators Stuart, Phillips, and Karnes)

[Originating in the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; reported February 13, 2024]

Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 03-085/00-019.17 (03A081), locally known as Crazy Bridge, located at 37°56'27.7"N 81°42'33.5"W near Marthatown in Boone County, the "U.S. Army 2LT Eston Kuhn Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, Eston Cameron Kuhn was born on May 27, 1919, in Bim, Boone County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Second Lieutenant Eston Kuhn served as a co-pilot with the U.S. Army Air Forces 71st Troop Carrier Squadron of the 434th Troop Carrier Group. In the early hours of D-Day, June 6, 1944, Kuhn was co­piloting a C-47 aircraft on a glider mission over the Cherbourg Peninsula when the aircraft was hit by flak and burst into flames. The crew were too low to bail out and the pilots managed to land the aircraft; and

Whereas, Everyone survived the landing, but shortly after landing, the crew walked into a German ambush. One man was killed and the others were taken as prisoners and  joined one of the German truck convoys heading towards Saint Lô; and

Whereas, The convoy was later attacked by American fighter aircraft and several captured Allied servicemen were unfortunately killed, including Second Lieutenant Eston Kuhn; and

Whereas, Second Lieutenant Eston Kuhn was buried by two of his crew, Staff Sergeant Boetcher and Sergeant John Beckley, in a nearby orchard and, after the war, was reburied at the Brittany American Cemetery; and

Whereas, Second Lieutenant Eston Kuhn was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate Second Lieutenant Eston Kuhn and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways name bridge number 03-085/00-019.17 (03A081), locally known as Crazy Bridge, located at 37°56'27.7"N 81°42'33.5"W near Marthatown in Boone County, the "U.S. Army 2LT Eston Kuhn 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 2LT Eston Kuhn Memorial 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.