Bill Text: WV HCR38 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: U. S. Army PFC Nile C. Ballard Memorial Road
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2020-03-04 - House received Senate message [HCR38 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2020-HCR38-Introduced.html
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 38
(By Delegates R. Miller, Westfall, Tomblin, Rodighiero, Hicks, Butler and Linville)
[Introduced January 27, 2020]
Requesting the Division of Highways to name a portion of County Route 1/2, Costa Road, near Costa, Boone County, W.Va., beginning at point (38.16421297” N) (-81.71190007W), at the intersection of Secondary Rt. 1, Ashford Nellis Rd., and Costa Rd., County Route 1/2, and ending at point (38.16056707N) (-81.7041669W), traveling approximately .75 miles, the “U. S. Army PFC Nile C. Ballard Memorial Road”.
Whereas, PFC Nile C. Ballard was born June 5, 1917, in Peytona, Boone County, West Virginia, to Edgar H. and Lillian Ballard; and
Whereas, PFC Ballard was the middle sibling with one older sister, Orpha, and one younger sister, Mildred, and grew up in Costa, Boone County, West Virginia, and graduated from Sherman High School in 1940; and
Whereas, Before enlisting in the United States Army, PFC Ballard worked as a coal miner while living with his parents; and
Whereas, On February 22, 1942, PFC Ballard enlisted in the United States Army, receiving his training at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he became a Private First Class; and
Whereas, Upon completion of training, PFC Ballard embarked overseas in June 1942, serving as a medic in the 168th Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division; and
Whereas, PFC Ballard participated in the invasion of North Africa and the Tunisia campaign. At that time, less than one year after entering service, the International Committee of the Red Cross reported PFC Nile Ballard had been captured by the enemy February 1, 1943; and
Whereas, PFC Ballard was a prisoner of war for at least 1,043 days, or more than two years and 10 months, one of the longest durations of captivity recorded, and was held prisoner in various locations including Italy, Germany and Russia; and
Whereas, during the course of his three years of service, he managed to escape the enemy five times. At one time PFC Ballard was concealed by an Italian family for eight months, only five miles from the Allied front, where he was captured the final time and ultimately held as a prisoner of war at Stalag 3B near Fuerstenberg, Prussia, where 4,222 American POWs were held, under control of Nazi Germany; and
Whereas, On April 15, 1945, during an Allied Bombing raid, PFC Ballard was tragically killed, at a camp which was liberated only 20 days later with the surrender of Germany; and
Whereas, even in the custody of enemy forces, PFC Ballard time and time again showed never-ending bravery, ingenuity and resolve to fight for freedom until he left this earth; and
Whereas, Throughout his brief military career, PFC Ballard received numerous decorations, including an Army Good Conduct Medal and Purple Heart; and
Whereas, At 28 years of age, PFC Ballard was a young man who devoted his life to his country and gave his life fighting for us to keep the freedom that we all enjoy because of men and women like him; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name a portion of County Route 1/2, Costa Road, near Costa, Boone County, W.Va., beginning at point (38.16421297” N) (-81.71190007W), at the intersection of Secondary Rt. 1, Ashford Nellis Rd., and Costa Rd., County Route 1/2, and ending at point (38.16056707N) (-81.7041669W), traveling approximately .75 miles, the “U. S. Army PFC Nile C. Ballard Memorial Road”; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Commissioner of the Division of Highways is hereby requested to have made and be placed signs at both ends identifying the road as the “U. S. Army PFC Nile C. Ballard Memorial Road”; 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.
