Senate Concurrent Resolution
No. 15
CHAPTER 83
Relative to the U.S. Army SP4 Dwayne M. Patterson Memorial Highway.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
July 16, 2021.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SCR 15, Hueso.
U.S. Army SP4 Dwayne M. Patterson Memorial Highway.
This measure would designate a specified portion of State Route 111 in the County of Imperial as the U.S. Army SP4 Dwayne M. Patterson Memorial Highway. The measure would request that the Department of Transportation determine the costs of appropriate signs showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering those costs, erect those signs.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, Dwayne Maxifield Patterson was born on November 20, 1941, in Elk City, Oklahoma; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne attended high school in Oklahoma and at Calipatria High School in Calipatria, California, where he played baseball; and
WHEREAS, After high school, Dwayne worked for Imperial Pre-Mix in El Centro, California; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne married Donna Siris of Calipatria on December 14, 1963; and
WHEREAS, While employed at Imperial Pre-Mix, Dwyane was drafted into the United States Army in September 1965, where, after basic training, he was transferred to Ft. Bliss, Texas, and later to Ft. Polk, Louisiana, where he was adjudged the “Outstanding Trainee” in combat jungle warfare; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne was then transferred to Ft. Knox, Kentucky, to learn how to drive an Armored Personnel Carrier (APC), where he was runner-up for the top honors as an APC driver; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne was transferred to Vietnam on March 26, 1967, where he was assigned to the “Big Red 1 Division”; and
WHEREAS, Soon after his arrival, Dwayne was driving an APC when his vehicle hit a land mine; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries sustained; and
WHEREAS, After recovering from those injuries, Dwayne was on a night defensive perimeter patrol on December 3, 1967, when his unit was ambushed; and
WHEREAS, While the attack continued, and while Dwayne was bravely assisting in evacuating wounded personnel, he sustained a fatal injury; and
WHEREAS, For his service to his country and ultimate sacrifice, Dwayne was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action, Bronze Star for Outstanding Meritorious Service and exemplary professionalism against the enemy, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Medal, and National Defense Service Medal; and he wore the 1st Infantry Badge, Army Vietnam Class A Patch, 2nd Infantry Regiment Patch, and Combat Infantryman Badge; and
WHEREAS, Dwayne is survived by his widow, Donna Davis of Prosper, Texas, brothers Charles of Blythe, California, and Billy of Sun City, Arizona, and sister Darla Williams of Glendale, Arizona; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislature recognizes Dwayne Maxifield Patterson’s contributions to the State of California and the United States of America by designating a portion of State Route 111 in the County of Imperial, between postmile 33 and postmile 37.6, as the U.S. Army SP4 Dwayne M. Patterson Memorial Highway; and be it further
Resolved, That the Department of Transportation is requested to determine the costs of erecting the appropriate signs, consistent with the signing requirements for the state highway system, showing this special designation and, upon receiving donations from nonstate sources covering the costs, to erect those signs; and be it further
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.