H1407B1939A05350 BIL:CDM 12/16/15 #90 A05350
AMENDMENTS TO HOUSE BILL NO. 1407
Sponsor: REPRESENTATIVE EVERETT
Printer's No. 1939
Amend Bill, page 1, line 3, by striking out the period after
"Bridge" and inserting
; and designating a portion of State Route 2044 in Lycoming
County as the Lance Corporal William F. Merrill Vietnam
Veterans Highway.
Amend Bill, page 3, by inserting between lines 5 and 6
Section 2. Lance Corporal William F. Merrill Vietnam Veterans
Highway.
(a) Findings.--
(1) Lance Corporal William Franklin Merrill was born
August 20, 1948, in Muncy, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, to
Joseph A. and Sheila (Wolfe) Merrill.
(2) Lance Corporal Merrill was a resident of Muncy,
Pennsylvania, before enlisting in the United States Marine
Corps on May 6, 1968, at 20 years of age.
(3) Lance Corporal Merrill was assigned to India
Company, Third Battalion, First Marines in Vietnam as a
radioman.
(4) On May 12, 1969, while on a search and clear
mission, Lance Corporal Merrill's company came under heavy
enemy small arms and repeating fire.
(5) With complete disregard for his own personal safety,
Lance Corporal Merrill ran across open and fire-swept terrain
to retrieve a fallen comrade.
(6) Lance Corporal Merrill immediately administered
first aid to the wounded marine and carried the marine to a
safer area where he could receive further treatment, helping
to save his life.
(7) On August 7, 1969, Lance Corporal Merrill himself
was wounded but returned to duty.
(8) On November 26, 1969, the first squad of the third
platoon, including squad leaders and lieutenants, was sent on
a special night activity to conduct an ambush.
(9) After the ambush, as nine marines were returning to
their company's position, a wire attached to a booby trap was
tripped.
(10) Lance Corporal Merrill guarded the device and
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called for his sergeant as the rest of the marines made their
way through the danger area.
(11) After the other marines had safely crossed the
ravine where the booby trap was located, the device
detonated, killing Lance Corporal Merrill instantly and
fatally wounding his sergeant.
(b) Designation.--The section of State Route 2044 in
Lycoming County from the bridge over Glade Run to the
intersection of State Routes 405 and 422 is hereby designated
the Lance Corporal William F. Merrill Vietnam Veterans Highway.
(c) Signs.--The Department of Transportation shall erect and
maintain appropriate signs displaying the name of the highway to
traffic in both directions on the highway.
Amend Bill, page 3, line 6, by striking out "2" and inserting
3
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