FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
State Rep. Ken Smith D-Lackawanna www.pahouse.com/KSmith

House passes Smith bridge-naming bill

HARRISBURG, Jan. 27 – The Pennsylvania House of Representatives has unanimously passed a bill introduced by Rep. Ken Smith that would name the Davis Street Bridge after two fallen WWII soldiers from the 112^th District.

Under the bill, the Davis Street Bridge that crosses over Interstate 81 in Moosic would be named the Andrew and Durando Pompey Memorial Bridge.

"These brothers were born and raised in the Minooka section of Scranton, just blocks from the Davis Street Bridge," Smith said. "They both demonstrated their dedication to this country and both paid the ultimate price. For this, we honor them with this tribute."

The older brother, Staff Sgt. Andrew A. Pompey, enlisted in the U.S. Army within days following the attack on Pearl Harbor. He was assigned to the 504^th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 1^st Brigade Combat Team, 82^nd Airborne Division.

Andrew was involved in the invasion on Anzio, Italy, where his regiment earned the nickname, "Devils in Baggy Pants." He was killed by enemy artillery while leading his squad in an assault of a bridge spanning the Mussolini Canal near Sassano, Italy. He is buried in the Italian American Cemetery adjacent to the bridge.

His brother, Pfc. Durando J. Pompey, enlisted in the Army nine months after Andrew. He was assigned to the 119^th Infantry Regiment, 30^th Infantry Division. Durando landed on Omaha Beach in June 1944. He was killed by enemy artillery shortly thereafter during an attack through the French hedgerows country toward Point Hebert and St. Lo. Durando is buried on Long Island, N.Y.

Both men were awarded the Purple Heart posthumously.

The bill (H.B. 1847) now goes to the Senate for consideration.

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