Section 8. Staff Sergeant John Minick Interchange.
(a) Findings.--
(1) Staff Sergeant John Minick displayed conspicuous
gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his own life above
and beyond the call of duty in action involving combat with
the enemy on November 21, 1944.
(2) Staff Sergeant Minick's battalion was halted in its
advance by extensive minefields, exposing troops to heavy
concentrations of enemy artillery and mortar fire. Further
delay in the advance would result in numerous casualties, and
a movement through the minefield was essential.
(3) Voluntarily, Staff Sergeant Minick led four men
through hazardous barbed wire and debris, finally making his
way through the minefield. When an enemy machine gun opened
fire, he signaled his men to take cover, edged his way toward
the flank of the weapon and opened fire, killing two and
capturing three others.
(4) Moving forward again, he encountered and engaged
single-handedly an entire company, killing 20 Germans and
capturing 20.
(5) Again moving ahead and spearheading his battalion's
advance, he again encountered machine gun fire. Crawling
forward, he reached a point from which he knocked the weapon
out of action.
(6) While advancing forward a third time under constant
enemy fire, Staff Sergeant Minick detonated a land mine and
was instantly killed.
(7) Staff Sergeant John Minick was posthumously awarded
the last Medal of Honor for World War II.
(b) Designation authorized.--The interchange with Business Route 22 in Wilkins Township, Allegheny County, is hereby designated and shall hereafter be known as the Staff Sergeant John Minick Interchange in recognition of the Medal of Honor recipient.
(c) Signs.--The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission shall erect appropriate signs at the interchange displaying the designation under subsection (b).