Two bridges in Cambria County named to honor Navy veterans

EBENSBURG, Pa. (WTAJ) — Two Navy Veterans were honored on Thursday at the Ebensburg VFW Post 4963 .

Corpsman Charles (Chuck) William Doerr and Senior Chief Stanley “Stush” Kubat, Jr. had bridges in Cambria County designated after them, an honor that the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation said is rare.

“The practice of naming a piece of our infrastructure is a very rare but honored gesture. That’s really the least we could do to honor our service men and women that have devoted their time and often their lives to protect our freedom. So really, it’s just a small gesture that we can do,” Vince Greenland, District Executive for PennDOT District 9 said.

The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 52767 carrying Pennsylvania Route 4031 – West High Street, crossing the Ghost Town Trail, located in Ebensburg Borough, is designated as the “Corpsman Charles Doerr, United States Navy, Memorial Bridge.

According to his family, Doerr enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 and served as a Hospital Corpsman with the Fleet Marines, assigned to the First Marine Division in Korea. He was killed in action on Bunker Hill while administering aid to his fellow soldiers.

“My heart sank. Here I was in Camp Drake, Japan, learning that I had lost the best half of my birth. My twin brother,” Robert Doerr, Chuck’s brother said.

Doerr was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals, as well as 6 others for his service.

Another bridge was also renamed for a Navy Veteran from Cambria County. The bridge, identified as Bridge Key 55994, carrying State Route 4002 over California Run in Cambria Township has been designated as the “Senior Chief Stanley “Stush” Kubat, Jr., Memorial Bridge.

“I think it will be a happy and prideful moment whenever they cross over the bridge as often as they do. I’m sure that they’ll be sad moments in memory because he’ll be missed but most of all happy,” Scott Kubat, Stanley’s brother said.

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Kubat served for 23 years as a member of the Navy. He served in many foreign arenas such as Cuba, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Diego Garcia. For his service, he earned a Bronze Star. Kubat passed away on November 9, 2022.

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