The bridge crossing the Barren Fork River on Shelbyville Road will be named the “Donnie Ray McCormick Memorial Bridge” in memory of a fallen Vietnam soldier.
The Warren County Commission unanimously voted to approve the resolution requesting the bridge be named after Donnie Ray McCormick. McCormick was a Morrison resident born on Oct. 22, 1947. He served in Vietnam and began his tour on May 2, 1967. He was killed in action on Feb. 8, 1968 in South Vietnam, Dinh Tuong province. He is buried at Mt. View Cemetery.
He had the military rank of Specialist Four and his occupation was Light Weapons Infantry. McCormick was attached to 9th Infantry Division, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry, B Company.
His commendations include: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge, Marksmanship Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and the Army Good Conduct
At the meeting, David Grissom was asked to say a few words about McCormick.
“I made it my goal to see that he would be honored. He was killed shortly after his 20th birthday in Vietnam on the eighth of February 1968. I stayed in touch with Donnie in Vietnam and I called him the day he was killed. I told him I was coming to see him the next morning because I was in aviation,” said Grissom.
McCormick told Grissom to call the orderly room because there had been a lot of action lately and they might be on patrol when he came.
“He said please call the orderly room and talk to the first sergeant so I did. The next morning I called the orderly room and they said I have to give you some bad news, Donnie was killed along with many other soldiers in our unit last night,” said Grissom.
Grissom says the bridge will be near his family and that McCormick is well deserving of this honor.
“The young man that you are honoring is well deserving of it. His father and mother own the land that borders the bridge. His family, his sister and two brothers, are still living. He has cousins and nephews that own a farm right next to it,” said Grissom.
Grissom said he would be proud to be one of the Honor Guards during the ceremony for McCormick.
“His family and the people that cross that road in the community would be proud to see his name on that bridge,” said Grissom. “Doing this is an honor. To put that on that bridge is a great honor to this community and this country.”
“We are proud as a county court to be able to provide this,” said Terry Bell.
