Bill Text: WV SCR34 | 2022 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: USMC SGTMAJ Herman H. Brawner Memorial Bridge
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2022-03-01 - House Message received [SCR34 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2022-SCR34-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 34
(By Senators Hamilton, Lindsay, and Romano)
[Introduced February 03, 2022]
Requesting the Division of Highways name bridge number 49-033/00-015.38 (EB-WB) (49A122-49A123), locally known as MIDDLE FK CON I BM, carrying APD 33 over Middle Fork River and CR 10/10 in Upshur County, the “U.S.M.C. SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner Memorial Bridge”.
Whereas, Herman H. Brawner was enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps at the age of 17 during WWII and fought in the Pacific Theater for the duration of the war; and
Whereas, He went on to have a 30-year military career. SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner fought in combat in three wars: WWII, Korea, and Vietnam, serving two tours in Vietnam; and
Whereas, During the Korean War, SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner and his fellow Marines dug in for an extremely bloody battle on the shore of the Chosin Reservoir with Red Chinese soldiers, in temperatures that dropped as low as 35 degrees below zero, using sandbags and frozen bodies for protection because it was too cold to dig foxholes, for which he and his fellow troops were dubbed the “Frozen Chosin”; and
Whereas, One of SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner’s tours in Vietnam included an urban battle in the City of Hue, where he led out-numbered Marines into the besieged city, but still managed to kill nearly three times as many Communist North Vietnamese, and helped raise an American flag on Hue’s provincial headquarters. Brawner’s notebook showed that the Marine battalion, which he led, suffered some 250 casualties in battle with many more wounded in what is considered by many the bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War; and
Whereas, During his career, SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner was wounded multiple times, earning numerous service awards including a Purple Heart with two gold stars, an Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars, an American Campaign Medal, a Combat Action Ribbon with a Bronze Star and “V” for Valor, a Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, a United Nations Service Medal, two Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Medals, one with a Silver Star and one with a Palm Ribbon, a Vietnam Campaign Medal with 1960 Device, plus a good conduct medal with many other citations and awards; and
Whereas, SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner also received recognition with a special Navy Commendation Medal including a combat “V” for Valor during WWII; and
Whereas, SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner retired as the head Noncom Military Police Marine in South East Asia overseeing U.S. Embassy security in five countries and, upon his retirement, finished his work career with Louisiana Pacific Lumber; and
Whereas, SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner and his wife, Fayma, chose West Virginia following his retirement, where he spent the remainder of his life on his farm in Upshur County, providing counsel and help to all who knew him; and
Whereas, It is fitting that an enduring memorial be established to commemorate SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner for his contributions to our state and country; therefore, be it Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Division of Highways name bridge number 49-033/00-015.38 (EB-WB) (49A122-49A123), locally known as MIDDLE FK CON I BM, carrying APD 33 over Middle Fork River and CR 10/10 in Upshur County, the “U.S.M.C. SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner 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.M.C. SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner 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 and to SgtMaj Herman H. Brawner’s widow, Fayma Brawner.
