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A JOINT RESOLUTION designating the PFC Ernie West Memorial Highway in 1
Greenup County. 2
WHEREAS, Ernest Edison "Ernie" West was born in Russell, Kentucky, on 3
September 2, 1931, and, orphaned as a child, grew up at the Masonic Children's Home in 4
Versailles, Kentucky; and 5
WHEREAS, Ernie West was drafted into the United States Army in 1950, 6
completed basic training in Hawaii, and was dispatched to the front lines in Korea as a 7
private first class with the 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; and 8
WHEREAS, on October 12, 1952, PFC Ernie West was the point man on a night 9
patrol tasked with destroying an enemy outpost when the patrol was ambushed while 10
climbing a hill, suffering numerous casualties; and 11
WHEREAS, observing his wounded lieutenant lying in an exposed position, PFC 12
Ernie West ordered the troops to withdraw, then braved intense fire to reach and assist 13
him. While attempting evacuation, he was attacked by three hostile soldiers employing 14
grenades and small-arms fire. Quickly shifting his body to shelter the officer, he killed 15
the assailants with his rifle, then carried his lieutenant to safety. Although critically 16
wounded, he courageously returned through withering fire and bursting shells to assist 17
the wounded. While evacuating two comrades, he killed three more of the enemy; and 18
WHEREAS, upon returning from the action, PFC Ernie West later told military 19
historians, "I didn’t even know I was hurt until we got back. One of the guys said, 20
'You’re bleeding, Ernie.' And I said, 'Hell, it’s just a little bit of bite.' One of them aid 21
men came over and he said, 'You got an eye missing.' And I said, 'Well, you’re crazy.' "; 22
and 23
WHEREAS, for his actions that day, PFC Ernie West was awarded the Medal of 24
Honor, with the citation for the award noting that he "distinguished himself by 25
conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. 26
PFC West's indomitable spirit, consummate valor, and intrepid actions inspired all who 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 2120
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observed him, reflect the highest credit on himself, and uphold the honored traditions of 1
the military service"; and 2
WHEREAS, PFC Ernie West planned to decline the medal until being convinced 3
otherwise, later saying, "I wasn’t going to go get it. I thought everybody ought to have 4
one. I do not consider myself a hero, I was doing what I was supposed to do"; and 5
WHEREAS, at his Medal of Honor ceremony, President Dwight Eisenhower, when 6
presenting PFC Ernie West, shook his head in wonder as he placed the medal’s blue 7
ribbon around his neck, telling him, "In addition to the decoration, which is the highest 8
we have, I want to express an old soldier’s admiration"; and 9
WHEREAS, after his military service was completed, Ernie West returned to 10
Wurtland, Kentucky, where he married Gwendolyn Jane Stafford, who would be his 11
partner until her death in 2012; and 12
WHEREAS, in addition to his job at the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Ernie West 13
coached youth football and basketball and was elected mayor of Wurtland, where he 14
worked tirelessly to expand water service; and 15
WHEREAS, Ernie West left these earthly bounds on May 1, 2021, and was laid to 16
rest in the state veterans cemetery in Greenup County for which he helped secure land 17
and funding; 18
NOW, THEREFORE, 19
Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 20
Section 1. The Transportation Cabinet shall designate Kentucky Route 503 in 21
Greenup County, from the intersection with Kentucky Route 207 (mile point 5.481) to 22
the intersection with Kentucky Route 3105 (mile point 9.287) as the "PFC Ernie West 23
Memorial Highway" and shall, within 30 days of the effective date of this Resolution, 24
erect appropriate signs denoting this designation. Signs erected under this section shall 25
indicate that PFC Ernie West was a Medal of Honor recipient. This designation shall 26
supersede any previous honorary designation for this section of highway. 27