HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 18
(By Delegates Moore, Browning, Burdiss and White)
[Introduced February 2, 2007.]
Requesting the Division of Highways to name the bridge numbered
24-8-0.03 in Anawalt, West Virginia, the "Lance Corporal James
'Jimmy' Sargent Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, James Ray Sargent was born on February 28, 1950, to
the parents of Millard Clay and Izetta Sargent in Jenkinjones, West
Virginia. Jimmy's father was a hard-working coal miner who died of
black lung in November 1950. Leaving Izetta with a six-month-old
baby and 10 other children to raise on her own; and
Whereas, Jimmy dropped out of high school at the age of 17 to
enlist with the Marines. However, do to his age, his determination
to join the Marines persuaded his mother to sign the enlistment
papers allowing him to enter service. He officially became a
Marine on April 24, 1967 and was soon deployed to Vietnam as a
member of D Battery, 13
th Marines, 1
st Marine Division; and
Whereas, Jimmy Sargent was in Vietnam only three months when
him and 11 other Marines from D Battery were assigned to support
the 11
th Mobile Strike Force, a unit of Australian and United States
Special Forces stationed at Ngok Tavak, who were being attacked by
North Vietnamese forces; and
Whereas, The battle at Ngok Tavak lasted about 10 hours and
involved intense fighting. A decision was made to evacuate the camp and retreat. Jimmy Sargent was among a group of 12 Marines
from D Battery who were hit by grenades and fired upon by the North
Vietnamese while searching for a medic missing during the attack at
Ngok Tavak; and
Whereas, In late May 1968, Jimmy Sargent's family was notified
that he was missing in action. Jimmy's mother, Izetta, died in
1994 without knowing what had actually happened to her son; and
Whereas, Through a series of six investigations beginning in
1993 and interviews with villagers and former Vietnamese soldiers,
U.S. recovery teams discovered the key areas and defensive
positions on the Ngok Tavak battlefield. Excavations conducted in
1998 and 1999 by the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC)
revealed human remains and other evidence; and
Whereas, The Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory
specialists used mitochondrial DNA and other forensic methods to
identify positively the remains of Jimmy Sargent and the other
Marines who had been lost for 37 years; and
Whereas, Jimmy's family was notified in August 2005 that his
remains had been recovered. This discovery is recognized as being
the largest single group of Vietnam MIAs identified and returned at
one time; and
Whereas, On October 7, 2005, the remains of James Ray Sargent
and seven other Marines whose remains could not be individually
identified were buried as a group in Arlington National Cemetery.
Whereas, The Town of Anawalt, West Virginia, held a celebration
at the community center in honor of Jimmy Sargent on October 15, 2005; and
Whereas, James Ray Sargent is survived by sisters Alice Faye,
Joanne, Annette, and Phyllis; brothers Millard Jr., Douglas and
Roger; and half-brothers Freddie and James Breeden. He was
preceded in death by his brothers George, W.C., and Jackie;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
to name the bridge numbered 24-8-0.03 in Anawalt, West Virginia,
the "Lance Corporal James 'Jimmy' Sargent Memorial Bridge"; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of
Highways is hereby requested to post signs thereon with words,
printed in bold and prominent fashion, designating the bridge as
the "Lance Corporal James 'Jimmy' Sargent Memorial Bridge"; and, be
it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to
the Secretary of Transportation, the Commissioner of the Division
of Highways and the family of Lance Corporal James Sargent.
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