Bill Text: WV HCR89 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U. S. Army SGT James Shellace Armentrout Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-1)
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-07 - Completed legislative action [HCR89 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HCR89-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 89
(By Delegates C. Thompson, Hartman, Estep-Burton, Staggers, Boggs, Sponaugle, Barrett, Caputo, Miley, Fleischauer and Bates)
[Introduced February 14, 2020]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 49-29-00.83 (42A055), locally known as New Whitmer Bridge, carrying CR 29 over Gandy Creek in Randolph County, the “U. S. Army SGT James Shellace Armentrout Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, U.S. Army Sergeant James Shellace Armentrout was born on August 24, 1930, in Randolph County to Odith Sherman Armentrout and Ethel Armentrout. He attended the Randolph County schools and his mother aspired him to become a cook; and
Whereas, Sergeant Armentrout enlisted in the United States Army prior to the Korean War Conflict. He was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. In a letter dated March 22, 1949, his mother begged him not to go to Korea. Per her request, Sergeant Armentrout put in for a delay in reporting for active duty. The request was denied on September 21,1950; and
Whereas, On June 6, 1951, Sergeant Armentrout’s parents received a Western Union Telegram notifying them their son was reported as missing in action on May 18, 1951. His mother’s greatest fear had come true. She had already lost one son, Private Forrest William Armentrout in Belgium on January 4, 1945, and now perhaps another; and
Whereas, In a July 27, 1951, letter Mrs. Armentrout was given more complete information indicating that her son had been slightly wounded in the right hip and on May 18 was hand carried on a stretcher over the hills to the battalion aid station where he was given treatment. However, the aid station was attacked and before he could be evacuated, the station was overrun by the Chinese, and nothing more was heard or seen of her son. Later, after the area was retaken, a search for bodies was conducted but Sergeant Armentrout’s body was not among those recovered; and
Whereas, A letter dated July 11, 1953, stated no additional information was available but that then-Corporal Armentrout had been promoted to sergeant. Another letter followed dated December 31, 1953, stating that Sergeant Armentrout was presumed dead as of that date. In yet another letter dated January 4, 1954, Sergeant Armentrout’s mother was notified that her son had been awarded the Purple Heart. Sergeant Armentrout also received a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal for Korea, Korean War Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate U. S. Army Sergeant James Shellace Armentrout for his service to his state and country, having made the ultimate sacrifice; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways is hereby requested to name bridge 49-29-00.83 (42A055), locally known as New Whitmer Bridge, carrying CR 29 over Gandy Creek in Randolph County, the “U. S. Army SGT James Shellace Armentrout 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 SGT James Shellace Armentrout 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.
