In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation designating a bridge in Clearfield County as the Ashley E. Woolridge Memorial Bridge.

Ashley E. Woolridge was born on Nov. 8, 1916. Ashley attended Clearfield Public School where he graduated in 1934. He then attended West Point Military Academy from 1934-1935. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Lock Haven State Teachers College in 1935. He then attended Penn State College Graduate School where he was enrolled in the Master’s program in Education Administration before being called into service in 1941. Outside of work, Ashley enjoyed his family, horses, flying, the mountains, hunting and fishing. He also mined surface coal for over 50 years and taught related Math, Science and English at Hanover High School. Ashley completed U.S. Army Air Corps. Flying School in July 1942, Commissioned 2nd. Lt. rated pilot USAAC. He went overseas during Sept. 1943 as pilot and flight leader in the 319 Bombardment Group. He flew a Martin B-26 Marauder. Throughout his service, Ashley would fly the North Atlantic (Labrador, Greenland, Iceland-England), Africa during an invasion in Nov. 1942, Sardina, Corsica and France. Ashley was placed in command of the 320th Bomb Group (Med) B-26 12th Air Force on Nov. 1, 1944, and then promoted to Colonel Fed 1945, 106 combat missions. Col. Woolridge was honorably discharged in Nov. 1945. Col. Woolridge earned decorations such as the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 2 clusters, Air Medal (23 clusters), Presidential Unit Citations (2 clusters) and 2 Croix de Guerra Aree Palme (French). Ashley E. Woolridge passed away on May 3, 2004, at a hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Please join me in honoring the service of Col. Ashley E. Woolridge.