SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 25

(By Senators Kirkendoll, Stollings, Plymale and Unger)

[Introduced February 6, 2016.]

Requesting the Division of Highways to name bridge number 23-119/18-0.01 (23A141) (37.76693, 81.98861), locally known as Chauncey Girder, carrying County Route 119/18 over Island Creek in Logan County, the “US Army PFC Cornelius Vance Memorial Bridge”.

Whereas, Cornelius Vance was born January 29, 1924, at Breeden, Wayne County, West Virginia, and later lived at Chauncey, Logan County, West Virginia; and

Whereas, Cornelius Vance served his country in World War II as an Army Private First Class, a member of the 5th Army, 15th Army Group, 85th Custer Division, 337th Infantry (Wolverines), Company B; and

Whereas, PFC Cornelius Vance fought in Rome-Arno, North Apennines and Po Valley Battles in Italy; and

Whereas, PFC Cornelius Vance was awarded the Purple Heart; three Bronze Stars; Good Conduct Medal; European, African and Middle Eastern Campaign Medals; World War II Victory Ribbon and an Honorable Service Lapel Button for his service during the war; and

Whereas, PFC Cornelius Vance was trained as an automatic rifleman and served in the Army’s 85^th Division as a scout and combat infantryman, taking part in the Anzio Beach landing; and assisting the British 8th Army and the U. S. Army 10th Mountain Division with driving the German forces out of the Apennine Mountains; and

Whereas, PFC Cornelius Vance was wounded from gunshot and was transferred to a hospital in Naples, Italy; and

Whereas, Following recovery from his wound, PFC Cornelius Vance was assigned to guard prisoner of war German General Anton Dostler, and escort him to surrender and be tried by a military tribunal, at which he was later sentenced to die by firing squad.  General Dostler had previously ordered the execution of 15 American soldiers who were captured while attempting to set explosives in a tunnel. To complete his duty to deliver the general for official surrender and trial, at one point in the journey, PFC Cornelius Vance had to draw his weapon and threaten a crowd of Italians to keep them from killing the general and, at another point, had to protect the general from American soldiers who attempted to remove the general from the vehicle; and

Whereas, After being discharged from the Army December 6, 1945, PFC Cornelius Vance, along with his brothers Preston and Randolph, returned home from the war to Logan County; and

Whereas, Cornelius Vance married Bertie Lou DeHart of Pine Creek, in the Omar area of Logan County, made their home at Chauncey, and raised seven children: Gloria Jean; Carlene; Donnie; Ronnie; Randal and twins, Pamela and Carmela; and

Whereas, Cornelius Vance worked twenty-eight years as a coal miner and, following a disabling injury as a miner, became a cook and housekeeper at home to help raise his children, and enjoyed hunting, gardening, canning and being a Sunday School teacher at the Walnut Grove Free Will Baptist Church; and

Whereas, Cornelius Vance also helped remodel his church building, assisted the Beth Haven Christian School founded by his brother, the Rev. Preston Vance, and regularly volunteered to drive disabled and elderly neighbors to help them with shopping, banking, medical and other personal errands; and

Whereas, It is appropriate to honor this veteran who served well his country, his family and his community; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge number 23-119/18-0.01 (23A141) (37.76693, 81.98861), locally known as Chauncey Girder, carrying County Route 119/18 over Island Creek in Logan County, the “US Army PFC Cornelius Vance Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs identifying the bridge as the “US Army PFC Cornelius Vance Memorial Bridge”; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Division of Highways.