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Embry Files Bill to Designate Parkway as ‘Medal of Honor Recipient Trail

Staff Sergeant Don J. Jenkins

Designation on Natcher Parkway in honor of Medal of Honor Winners from Butler, Ohio Counties-Representative C.B. Embry, Jr., R-Morgantown (17th District) announced today he has filed a bill that if signed into law would designation the William Natcher Parkway in Butler and Ohio Counties as the ‘Medal of Honor Recipient Trail’ in honor of two Congressional Medal of Honor winners from those counties.

“We must never forget the service and sacrifice of these and all of our servicemen and women who have paid the ultimate price to protect and preserve our freedom,” said Rep. Embry.  “It’s essential that future generations know the names of those who gave their lives for our country, which is why I’ve proposed this small gesture to honor their memory and to pay homage to their courage.”

House Joint Resolution 10, which Rep. Embry filed during the first week of the 2014 Regular Session, would name the portion of the William Natcher Parkway through the two counties within 30 days of the bill being passed and signed into law.  The highway’s designation would be in honor of Butler County native Staff Sergeant Don J. Jenkins, and PFC Wesley Phelps of Rosine.

PFC Wesley Phelps

PFC Phelps, who served in the 3th Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor after his death for throwing himself on a live grenade to save his fellow soldiers during combat on the Island of Peleliu, codenamed Operation Stalemate II, on October 4, 1944.  More information about PFC Phelps is available at the following link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_Phelps.

Staff Sgt. Jenkins, who served in Company A, 2d Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his action during a firefight in the Kien Phong Province of Vietnam on January 6, 1969.  Sgt. Jenkins, who at that time was a Private First Class (PFC), repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire to rescue fellow wounded comrades, despite being wounded himself, and to resupply his ammunition and obtain new weapons to engage enemy soldiers.  More information about Staff Sgt. Jenkins can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_J._Jenkins.

For more information on HJR 10, go to http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/14rs/HJ10.htm.

 

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