HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 42

(By Delegates Ellington, Gearheart, Smith and Ridenour)

February 16, 2023

Referred to the Committee on Technology and Infrastructure then the Committee on Rules

Requesting the Division of Highways name Bridge Numbers: 28-077/00-010.89 (NB & SB) (28A200, 28A201), (37.38675, -81.05430) locally known as I-77 NB & SB OVER WV 20, carrying IS 77 over Mercer County Route 20 in Mercer, the "U. S. Army SSG William Joseph "Will" Thompson Memorial Bridge".

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was born March 12, 1971, in Baltimore; Maryland, the son of Marvin Thompson and Violet Thompson (both now deceased);  he was the baby of eight siblings: Lisa Abernethy, Phillip Thompson, Samantha Blankenship, Steve Thompson, Jeff Thompson, Glynn Thompson, Cassie Wilkinson, step sister Carol McGinn; he grew up in Princeton, WV since the age of two; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson attended Princeton Senior High School and graduated in 1989; he loved playing Tiger football and running track; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph enlisted in the West Virginia Army National Guard and decided he liked military life following in the footsteps of many in his family and joined the Army as an active duty soldier in 1989, where he became a combat medic; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was stationed many places throughout the country and also was deployed two years in Germany, and two deployments to Iraq; he served eight years active duty then returned to Princeton and again joined WVARNG with the 1/150 ARS HHT in Brushfork; he began working at Princeton Community Hospital as a Male Nursing Assistant and later became a LPN working on the telemetry unit; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson met Suzanne Thompson at PCH, in 1998; they married in 2001 and had a son, Ethan Thompson in 2003 and a daughter Ava Thompson in 2007; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was deployed to Iraq to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003; he returned home to Princeton in 2005 and began pursuing his RN degree at Bluefield State College; after completing one year, he was deployed to Iraq again in 2009; and

Whereas, During this second deployment to Iraq, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was stationed at Camp Stryker, near the Baghdad airport; upon returning to Fort Stewart, Georgia in 2010, the doctors were informed of his frequent cough that he experienced while in Iraq; he had been exposed to burn pits and toxic sand/dust that he inhaled that caused permanent scarring to both of his lungs in a condition called Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis with Pulmonary Fibrosis; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in March 2010 and was admitted to the Warrior Transition Unit for 6 months many tests were performed trying to find the cause of his lung problems; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson’s lung disease progressed quickly and he was referred to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia for evaluation for lung transplant in 2011; he began using oxygen full time that year and by 2012, he was placed on the list for a double lung transplant; he was medically retired from the military October 27, 2012, with 23 years of service; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson had a double lung transplant on June 6, 2012; he had several episodes of lung rejection/infection due to his immunocompromised state and eventually developed chronic rejection of his first lungs and required another lung transplant March 9, 2016; and

Whereas, Throughout the years since his war lung injury, Will advocated for other soldiers who had been exposed to burn pit exposure during their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan and testified in front of the United States Congress and United States Committee on Veterans Affairs;  he shared his story with CBS Evening news and NBC Nightly news, helping to get the word out about toxic exposures and help other soldiers get the benefits and healthcare they deserved; working along with Burnpits 360, he played a pivotal role in fighting for federal  legislation in what is now called the PACT Act that was passed August 10,2022; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson developed Squamous Cell skin cancer on his face in 2020 that was caused by the burn pit exposure and his anti-rejection medications; the cancer was aggressive and spread quickly; he fought until the end with chemo and radiation; U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson passed away December 15,2021; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph "Will" Thompson was a bright light in this world he was a man of God and praised Him through the good times and the bad. His continued faith was an inspiration to many; he loved to make people laugh, he loved to dance, sing and have fun; he was selfless, always thinking of those in need;  he was a patriot and loved serving his country and loved the American flag, saluting the one in his yard every day; he was grateful for each day that was given to him as he knew how short and precious life could be; he was thankful for his 2 organ donors that gave him the gift of life; he was a wonderful husband, father, brother, son, combat medic, nurse and a true hero; and

Whereas, U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson was awarded many military awards including: Expert Field Medical Badge from Germany, several Army Achievement medals, The Meritorious Service Medal, The Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism, Expeditionary medal, The Good Conduct Medal and the German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship; and

Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U.S. Army SSG William Joseph Thompson and his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name Bridge Numbers: 28-077/00-010.89 (NB & SB) (28A200, 28A201), (37.38675, -81.05430) locally known as I-77 NB & SB OVER WV 20, carrying IS 77 over Mercer County Route 20 in Mercer, the "U. S. Army SSG William Joseph "Will" Thompson 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 SSG William Joseph "Will" Thompson Memorial Bridge"; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.