Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 3 History
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 3
(By Delegates R. Phillips, Marcum and Tomblin)
Requesting that bridge number 23-10/20-0.23, located on County
Route 110/20 in Logan, West Virginia, crossing a tributary of
the Guyandotte River and locally known as the Logan High
School Bridge, the "Army Captain 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 Thomas McElwain was commanding officer of
Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry in Vietnam in
1967 and 1968; and
Whereas, Army Captain 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 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 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, located on County Route 110/20 in
Logan, West Virginia, crossing a tributary of the Guyandotte River
and locally known as the Logan High School Bridge, the "Army
Captain 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 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 Thomas
McElwain.