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MINERAL WELLS -- A bridge in Mineral Wells will be named after a soldier who died in 2019 while on active duty in Kuwait.
Staff Sgt. William "Billy" E. Friese of Rockport was killed July 18, 2019, in a non-combat related incident at Camp Buehring in Kuwait during Operation Inherent Resolve with the West Virginia Army National Guard.
A ceremony to dedicate the U.S. Army SSG William "Billy" E. Friese Memorial Bridge is planned for 10 a.m. Monday at the Big Tygart United Methodist Church and West Virginia 21 in Mineral Wells.
House Concurrent Resolution 25 passed the West Virginia House of Delegates and Senate in March, calling for the Division of Highways to name the bridge locally known as City Beer Overpass carrying Interstate 77 over W.Va. 21 in Wood County in Friese's memory.
Friese was 30 years old when he was killed. He grew up in Rockport.
The Parkersburg South High School graduate was assigned to the West Virginia Army National Guard 111th Engineer Brigade. He was previously deployed to Afghanistan in 2010 with the 1092nd Engineer Battalion.
Among awards and medals, Friese received the Meritorious Service Medal, Achievement Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon with Bronze Star Device, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Army Service Ribbon, Army Overseas Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon, West Virginia National Guard Emergency Services Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, West Virginia National Guard State Service Ribbon with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster and West Virginia National Guard Service Ribbon.
The resolution was introduced by Delegate John Westfall, D-Monongalia, and adopted by voice vote.