Walnut Bottom bridge to be named after Vietnam vet

HARRISBURG – A bridge in Walnut Bottom is to be renamed in honor of a local man killed 50 years ago in the Vietnam War.

Legislation (Senate Bill 1156) authored in part by state Rep. Will Tallman, R-New Oxford, would celebrate the life of a Cumberland County veteran who died in the line of duty. It awaits Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature.

“My original bill (House Bill 2481) was amended into a more comprehensive piece of legislation that passed both chambers of the General Assembly on Wednesday,” Tallman said.

The legislation would rename the Maple Avenue bridge over Yellow Breeches Creek in Walnut Bottom Township as the Sgt. Kenneth Lee ‘Buck’ Devor Memorial Bridge.

A resident of Walnut Bottom, Devor was a member of Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning Division). He was 20 years old when he was killed in action on Feb. 10, 1968, during the Tet Offensive, one of the Vietnam War’s largest military campaigns. 

Devor was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Meritorious Service, the Bronze Star with “V” for Valor, the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the Republic of Vietnam Military Merit Medal.

The legislation also proposed naming other bridges and sections of highways, including:

• The bridge on Stoughstown Road over Interstate 81 in Cumberland County as the Pvt. Raymond Lafayette Naugle Memorial Bridge
• The bridge on East High Street (Pa. 641) over Letort Spring in Carlisle as the Lance Cpl. Edward Rykosey Memorial Bridge.

The governor has 10 days in which to act on the bill.