Adolph bridge dedicated in memory of war hero
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ELKINS -- The sacrifices made by a Randolph County man who was killed in battle in Vietnam were honored during a bridge dedication ceremony Saturday.
The U.S. Army SPEC 5 Garry Monzel "Michael" Shannon Memorial Bridge was dedicated Saturday morning. The bridge takes vehicles over the Middle Fork River on Helvetia-Adolph Road in Adolph.
Shannon was killed June 30, 1970 in the Phuoc Long Province in Vietnam. He was 21 years old.
The event's master of ceremonies, Roger Ware, commandant of the Marine Corps League in Elkins, described the circumstances of Shannon's death in battle.
"Mike was a helicopter door gunner in Company C, 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 11th Aviation Group, 1st Calvary Division," Ware said Saturday morning. "He was aboard the lead helicopter inserting Army troopers into a landing zone for an assault in Phuoc Long Province when his helicopter was struck by enemy ground fire and commenced to crash.
"After his aircraft was struck, Mike continued firing the door mini-guns on enemy ground units until it crashed. His actions protected the other helicopters from enemy ground fire and they were able to safely insert the assault force in the landing zone.
"His action saved numerous lives," Ware said. "Mike was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his extraordinary heroism. He had previously been awarded 23 Air Medals for strike missions."
Shannon is buried "just a short distance" from the bridge, in Fincham Chapel Cemetery, Ware said.
Also speaking during the ceremony Saturday were Larry Chidester, who was instrumental in the effort to dedicate the bridge, and Jim Heck, a close friend of Shannon's who worked with him at the former Bob Wamsley's service station in Elkins before he entered the Army.
Del. Bill Hartman, D-43rd District, read aloud the legislative resolution dedicating the bridge in Shannon's memory.