PRINTER'S NO. 1484
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE BILL
No.
1144
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY LANGERHOLC, APRIL 5, 2024
REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION, APRIL 5, 2024
AN ACT
Designating a bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8404, on that
portion of Pennsylvania Route 56 over the Stony Creek River,
City of Johnstown, Cambria County, as the PFC Dr. Alex W.
Barber Memorial Bridge.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. PFC Dr. Alex W. Barber Memorial Bridge.
(a) Findings.--The General Assembly finds and declares as
follows:
(1) Private First Class Dr. Alex W. Barber was born
February 23, 1922, in Johnstown.
(2) PFC Barber grew up in Prospect, while attending
Johnstown Elementary, Middle and High School.
(3) On June 3, 1943, PFC Barber enlisted in the United
States Army in Altoona.
(4) PFC Barber was a member of Darby's Rangers and
landed on Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944.
(5) PFC Barber landed with his medical unit on the coast
of France at a time when the beach was under heavy enemy
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rifle, machine gun and artillery fire.
(6) PFC Barber saved one soldier's life by performing a
tracheotomy with a mere ball-point pen.
(7) PFC Barber communicated despite a language barrier
and a time constraint, asking permission to borrow a horse
and buggy from a Frenchman to move and care for the wounded.
(8) PFC Barber was wounded while administering care to
fellow soldiers.
(9) Shrapnel from these wounds remained lodged in his
head and leg for the rest of his life.
(10) For his heroic actions, PFC Barber was awarded the
Distinguished Service Cross, the Bronze Star and the Purple
Heart with Oak Leaf Clusters.
(11) After his military service, PFC Barber graduated
from Johns Hopkins University. Upon finishing his degree at
Johns Hopkins University, he pursued another academic degree
at the Baltimore Chiropractic College, where he earned a
doctor of chiropractic degree.
(12) PFC Barber was a practicing chiropractor in
Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Havre de Grace, Maryland; Frederick,
Maryland; and Santa Monica, California.
(13) PFC Barber was the father of five children, Alexis,
Joseph, Alexander, Judith and RoseAnn.
(14) PFC Barber died October 14, 1986.
(15) PFC Barber is buried at Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Virginia.
(b) Designation.--The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 8404,
carrying Pennsylvania Route 56 over the Stony Creek River in the
City of Johnstown, Cambria County, is designated as the PFC Dr.
Alex W. Barber Memorial Bridge.
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(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the bridge to
traffic in both directions on the bridge.
Section 2. Effective date.
This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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