COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3 

(By Delegates R. Phillips, Marcum and Tomblin)

Requesting that bridge number 23-110/20-0.23 (23A289) located on County Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia, crossing the side channel of the Guyandotte River and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the “Army Major Thomas McElwain Memorial Bridge”.

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain was born at Logan, West Virginia November 25, 1940 and was raised primarily by his maternal grandparents; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain attended Logan High School for a year, but later obtained a high school equivalency diploma; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain enlisted in the United States Army in 1958, at the age of eighteen, and underwent basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain later attended Drury College in Springfield, Mo. and the University of Maryland Far East Branch, obtaining two masters degrees; and

    Whereas, Thomas McElwain rose through the ranks as an enlisted soldier and became a commissioned officer, completing numerous training assignments, including airborne training and special forces training, and completing officer candidate school at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1963; and

    Whereas, Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain was commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968; and

    Whereas, Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action during a search and destroy mission November 11, 1967, near Dak To, Republic of Vietnam. When his company came under a heavy enemy mortar, rocket and small arms attack, Captain McElwain distinguished himself on several occasions during the seven-hour battle, exposing himself to enemy fire to drag a wounded man to safety and to carry out the requirements of his command, although wounded himself; and

    Whereas, In addition to the Silver Star, Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor (three awards), Army Commendation Medal for Valor (two awards), Purple Heart, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, The Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and the Senior Parachutist Badge; and

     Whereas, Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain died September 24, 2013; and

     Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established in the community he considered home to commemorate this native son’s service to his country; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

    That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-10/20-0.23 23-110/20-0.23 (23A289) located on County Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia, crossing a tributary the side channel of the Guyandotte River and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the “Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to erect signs at both ends of the bridge containing bold and prominent letters proclaiming the bridge the “Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates forward a certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways; to James W. Mullins, P. O. Box 333, Mount Gay, WV 25637; and to family members of Army Captain Major Thomas McElwain.