HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 94
(By Delegates Staton and Browning)
Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge numbered
1.13 over Slab Fork Creek on State Route 54 the "Lieutenant
William P. Patton Memorial Bridge" and the bridge numbered
1.25 over Slab Fork Creek, both being in Mullens, West
Virginia,
the "Captain Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, Lieutenant Patton, 1939, and Captain Feller, 1938,
were both graduates of Mullens High School. The Mullens High
School National Honor Society adopted their name as the "Feller-
Patton National Honor Society" after learning of their being killed
in action during World War II; and
Whereas
, Lieutenant William "Bill" Patton was an outstanding
football and basketball player at Mullens High School. After
graduation, he attended V.P.I. at Blacksburg, VA beginning in 1939
and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant upon graduation in 1943;
and
Whereas
, After a year of training, he was assigned to the U.S.
Army 106th Infantry Division. In May 1944, he sailed for Europe and
joined the Third Army in Southern France under the command of
General George S. Patton. In December of 1944, with the Third Army, "Bill" Patton was promoted to First Lieutenant when the 106th
Division went to Luxembourg and Belgaum during the "Battle of the
Bulge"; and
Whereas
, On December 19, 1944, a German 88 shell explosion
wounded First Lieutenant "Bill" Patton. Before being discharged
from the hospital, Lt. Patton volunteered to return to his
division; and
Whereas
, Lt. William P. Patton was awarded the Silver Star for
outstanding bravery when, as company commander, he lead his company
in an advance to relieve Americans surrounded at the City of
Bastgon
; and
Whereas
, On December 26, 1944, Lt. William P. Patton was killed
by a German bullet while leading his company across a snow-covered
field in Belgium; and
Whereas, Upon graduation from Mullens High School, Captain
Charles H. Feller enrolled in the College of Engineering with West
Virginia University. Where, after completing his Junior year, he
received a civilian pilot training lesson at the Morgantown
Airport; and
Whereas
, In August of 1941, Charles H. Feller enlisted in the
Army Air Corps "Flying Cadet" pilot training before the United
States entered World War II and before he was old enough to
register for the draft; and
Whereas
, On March 1, 1942, Charles H. Feller completed his pilot training, received his wings, and was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant two weeks before he turned the age of 21; and
Whereas
, As a fighter pilot of a P-40, Charles H. Feller was
sent with his group to Panama and Guatemala and,
upon returning to
the United States, was promoted to First Lieutenant and helped
train and form a fighter group flying the P-47 "Thunderbird"; and
Whereas
, In January of 1944, Charles H. Feller sailed for
Europe and joined the 8th Air Force, where he was promoted to
Captain and became Commander of the 375th Fighter Squadron; and
Whereas
, While escorting bombers as a fighter pilot, Captain
Charles H. Feller was accredited with shooting down three German
airplanes and disabling two on the ground; and
Whereas
, Charles H. Feller was awarded with two Air Medals and
the Distinguished Flying Cross; and
Whereas
, On April 27, 1944, Captain Feller's plane was hit by
a German ground fired shell while strafing an airfield 30 miles
south of Paris, France; and
Whereas
, Captain Feller's was reported to have been given an
"honorable military funeral" by the German Air Force prior to being
buried in a civilian cemetery near the town of Etamps, France; and
Whereas
, Captain Feller's body was later brought home and
buried in Arlington National Cemetery and is believed to be the
highest ranking soldier from Wyoming County that was killed during
World War II; therefore, be itResolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the bridge numbered 1.13 over Slab Fork Creek on State
Route 54 the "Lieutenant William P. Patton Memorial Bridge" and the
bridge numbered 1.25 over Slab Fork Creek, both being in Mullens,
West Virginia,
the "Captain Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge"
;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Division of Highways is requested
to have made and placed on the bridges signs identifying them as
the "Lieutenant William P. Patton Memorial Bridge"
and the "Captain
Charles H. Feller Memorial Bridge", respectively
; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the
Secretary of the Department of Transportation and the remaining
family of the heroes of this resolution.