State Rep. Jean Schmidt | The Ohio House of Representatives
State Rep. Jean Schmidt | The Ohio House of Representatives
The Ohio House of Representatives has passed House Bill 171, a piece of legislation that seeks to honor the late Captain Louis "John" Speidel. This announcement was made by Representative Jean Schmidt from Loveland.
House Bill 171 proposes naming the eastbound and westbound lanes of State Route 28 between Castleberry Court and the Happy Hollow Road Overpass as the “CPT Louis John Speidel Memorial Highway.” This area is close to where Captain Speidel spent his childhood.
Representative Schmidt stated, “Designating this highway is a small, but meaningful way to remember Capt. Speidel. His friends and family approached me to ask if there was a way to name a portion of the road he grew up on in his honor. I was more than happy to help.”
Captain Speidel's educational journey began at Milford High School, where he graduated in 1964 in the top 1% of his class. He then attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, earning Airborne and Ranger qualifications. After graduating in 1968, he received further training at Ft. Knox, Ft. Walters, and Ft. Rucker, becoming an accomplished helicopter pilot.
On April 23, 1971, during a mission in the A Shau Valley, Captain Speidel’s helicopter crashed. He and his co-pilot were stranded for 48 hours before being rescued. Unfortunately, after surgery for his injuries, Captain Speidel died on June 25, 1971.
In recognition of his bravery and service, Captain Speidel received several honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal among others.
The bill will now proceed to the Senate for consideration.
Alerts Sign-up