Legislation passed to name highway, overpass after soldiers

COLUMBUS — The Ohio House has passed legislation that will name a portion of U.S. Route 36 in Tuscarawas County the “Robert E. Turney Memorial Highway” and will name the overpass on Johnson Drive spanning U.S. Route 250 in Uhrichsville the “Specialist Ronald Gene Johnson Memorial Highway.”

State Rep. Brett Hillyer, R-Uhrichsville, announced passage of the bill on Friday.

Turney was born July 15, 1919, and raised in Tuscarawas County. He served his country in the U.S. Army before and during World War II from 1940-1945. Turney was awarded the Silver Star for his actions in the North Africa campaign in 1943.

During the Battle of Kasserine Pass, he emptied his weapon in an effort to hold off an enemy advance and stayed with a wounded soldier resulting in their capture. Released after a few days, Turney took part in the 1943 Invasion of Sicily. He was awarded the Purple Heart when he narrowly escaped death when wounded by mortar fragments to his chest and arms.

After the war, he worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation, District 11, in New Philadelphia from 1945 until his retirement in 1978. He witnessed the expanding highway system; installed signage; plowed snow covered roads; and painted thousands of miles of center and edge lines.

Turney died on Oct. 15, 1989.

Specialist Ronald Johnson was a resident of Uhrichsville, where he resided with his wife, Judy.

Johnson served in the Vietnam War, where he made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. He was killed by sniper fire just about 40 days before he was due to be discharged and return home to Uhrichsville.

Even though Johnson was killed during combat, his leadership and courage enabled his squad to continue the assault and eventually overrun the enemy.

Johnson received the Bronze Star with a “V” device designation, as well as a Purple Heart for his contributions.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Legislation passed to name highway, overpass after soldiers