SENATE RESOLUTION 34

(By Senators Weld, Caputo, Karnes, and Chapman)

[Introduced February 12, 2024]

Recognizing William Schwertfeger, decorated combat veteran of the United States Army in World War II and centenarian.

Whereas, William "Bill" Schwertfeger was born in Follansbee, West Virginia, on February 13, 1924, to John and Blanche Schwertfeger; and

Whereas, While growing up on Virginia Avenue in Follansbee, William attended Mahan School, and also worked for the Follansbee Steel Corporation while attending Follansbee High School; and

Whereas, On March 17, 1943, at the height of World War II and just three months shy of his high school graduation, William left his hometown and enlisted in the United States Army at Fort Hayes in Columbus, Ohio; and

Whereas, After completing his basic infantry training at Fort Benning in Georgia, William was assigned to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, and departed for North Africa, and eventually crossed the Mediterranean into Naples, Italy; and

Whereas, While in Italy, William was involved in combat operations during the Battle of Monte Cassino, at the Anzio Beachhead, and in the Liberation of Rome; and

Whereas, On February 5, 1945, then Corporal Schwertfeger was manning a machine gun in support of an ongoing attack by Allied Forces; and

Whereas, During that attack, William and a fellow soldier witnessed a U.S. Army tank destroyer suffer significant damage during a heavy artillery barrage; and

Whereas, William and a comrade risked their lives in order to rescue a wounded member of the destroyer's crew by crawling over 100 yards to the injured soldier's location and carrying him back to safety, all while under heavy artillery fire; and

Whereas, For his heroic efforts on that day, William Schwertfeger was awarded the Bronze Star; and

Whereas, William Schwertfeger was honorably discharged from the United States Army on November 7, 1945, with the rank of Sergeant, and for his service, in addition to the Bronze Star Medal, was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the World War II Honorable Service Lapel Button, and the Combat Infantryman Badge; and

Whereas, After the war, William, and his wife Mary, to whom he was married to for 65 years prior to her passing in 2019, raised their two sons in Follansbee and attended both West Liberty State College and West Virginia University; and

Whereas, William Schwertfeger enjoyed a 30-year career as a teacher, principal, and instructional supervisor in the school systems of Brooke County, West Virginia, and Jefferson County, Ohio; and

Whereas, Throughout his life, William Schwertfeger has been an active member of his community by serving as a member of the Follansbee City Council for six years, as a past commander of the Follansbee American Legion Post 45, and in 2014, was recognized as both the Brooke County Veterans Memorial Park Foundation's Veteran of the Year and the Follansbee Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year; and

Whereas, William Schwertfeger will celebrate his 100th birthday on February 13, 2024; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes William Schwertfeger, decorated combat veteran of the United States Army in World War II and centenarian; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate sends its best wishes to William Schwertfeger on his 100th birthday and extends its most sincere gratitude and appreciation for his service to his state and country; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to William Schwertfeger.