SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 29
(By Senators Jenkins, Plymale and Dempsey)
Requesting the Division of Highways name the bridge on U. S. Route
60 crossing Four Pole Creek from Cabell County to Wayne County
the "Colonel Justice M. Chambers Memorial Bridge".
Whereas, Justice M. Chambers, a native of Huntington, Cabell
County, attended Marshall College in the 1920s and served with
distinction in the United States Marine Corps from 1929 to 1946 as
Commanding Officer of the Third Assault Battalion Landing Team,
Twenty-fifth Marines, Fourth Marine Division; and
Whereas, In February, 1945, while seriously wounded, Colonel
Chambers led an eight-hour battle against fierce Japanese
resistance at Iwo Jima after landing on the island in a furious
barrage of enemy machine gunfire; and
Whereas, As a direct result of Colonel Chambers' forceful
leadership, courage and fortitude in the face of staggering odds,
a vital foothold on the island was protected, thus leading to the
success of subsequent operations of the Fifth Amphibious Corps on
Iwo Jima; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers, in accordance with his heroic acts
on the battlefield, received the Congressional Medal of Honor in
1946 from President Harry S. Truman; and
Whereas, In addition to the Medal of Honor, Colonel Chambers received the Silver Star and Legion of Merit with Combat "V",
Purple Heart with two gold stars, Presidential Unit Citation with
three bronze stars, Marine Corps Reserve Medal with two stars,
American Defense Service Medal with silver star (denoting five
campaigns) and the World War II Victory Medal; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers was appointed in 1962 by President
John F. Kennedy to the post of Deputy Director of the Office of
Emergency Planning, where he served with distinction until his
retirement; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers passed away on July 29, 1982, at the
age of 74; and
Whereas, Colonel Chambers, a distinguished native son,
embodied the finest traditions of United States military and
civilian service to this country; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby requests the Division of Highways
name the bridge on U. S. Route 60 crossing Four Pole Creek from
Cabell County to Wayne County the "Colonel Justice M. Chambers
Memorial Bridge"; and, be it
Further Resolved,
That the Legislature hereby requests the
Division of Highways
place signs at each end of the bridge
identifying it as the "Colonel Justice M. Chambers 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 Secretary of
the Department of Transportation, the Headquarters of the United
States Marine Corps in Washington, D. C., and to Colonel Chambers'
nephews, Benjamin and Carter Chambers.
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