Former West Virginia State Senator John G. Chernenko, 90, of Wellsburg passed away April 27, 2015. He was born April 28, 1924, the only son of John G. Chernenko and Sophia Dzigo Chernenko.
He was preceded in death by his sisters Maria Chernenko, Tilly Sliday, and Anne Husick of Wellsburg and Sophia Bowman of Fallonsbee. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Kathryn Smith Chernenko, two sons, Gary C. Chernenko and his wife Susan V. Chernenko of Charleston, Marc C. Chernenko and his wife Judge Joyce D. Chernenko of Wellsburg, daughter Janet Chernenko Mears of Huntington and two grandchildren, John Cullen Mears and Meredith K. Mears, as well as several nieces and nephews.
MILITARY SERVICE...
Following his education in the Brooke Country School System, John enlisted in the US Army in 1943. He went ashore on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 as a replacement assigned a unit in the 29th Division. By July 24, 1944, he was with Company G, 120th Regiment, 30th Infantry Division in St. Lo, France, where he encountered friendly fire which killed 24 American troops and 128 more were wounded. He was twice wounded on Hill 314 near Mortain, France when the 120th heroically defended its position during a counterattack ordered directly by Hitler. The Regiment lost over 400 of its 740 men during the attack which lasted from August 6-12. It became known to military historians as the Lost Battalion. After recovering from his wounds in England, John returned in time to participate in the Battle of the Bulge. During that battle, John received another combat
wound when he and a dozen men from his unit were captured by German troops and sent to Prison Camp XIII near the North Sea. On May 10 of that year, the camp was liberated by British troops, and he returned to Wellsburg to await further orders. While there, President Truman ordered the bombing of Japan which ended the war. For his service, John was awarded various military honors, including, the Purple Heart with Cluster, Two Bronze Stars, Presidental Unit Citation, Five Campaign Medals, French Jubilee of Liberty Medal, POW Medal, Belgian Croix de Guerre, Combat Infantry Medal and European Campaign Medal. He attained the rank of Technical Sargeant.
At the time of his death, he was awaiting confirmation as a Knight of the Legion of Honor from the government of France.
CIVILIAN SERVICE...
Upon returning to civilian life, John served as the Chairman of the Brooke Country Democratic Executive Committee, including the period of the 1960 Presidential campaign of John F. Kennedy. He further served his country when President Kennedy appointed him US Marshal for the Northern District of West Virginia. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest Marshall in the country. In 1965, he was reappointed Marshall by Lyndon B. Johnson. He served in this position until 1969.He later served three terms in the West Virginia State Senate, representing the First Senatorial District from 1983-94. Among his senatorial positions were, Major Whip, Chairman of the Labor Commitee and a member of the Commitee on Military Affairs. In addition, John served his community through public service throughout his life. He served as President of the Northern Panhandle Fellowship Home, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, President of the Independant Guard Union of Weirton Steel, Treasurer of the Brooke County Museum Commission, a member of the Weirton Steel ESOP Joiint Study Committee, incorporating member of Brooke County Veterans Memorial Foundation, board member of the Brooke County Commission on Aging and of the Bethany College Parents Council among other civic and fraternal activities. John was Commander of the Ohio Valley Barbed Wire #1, which he helped charter as an organization for former POWs of all wars to bond, heal and share their experiences.John retired from Weirton Steel Corportation. He was a long-time member of the Wellsburg United Methodist Church. In 2005, he was honored when both houses of the West Virginia Legislature passed a resolution, signed by Governor Joe Manchin, naming the bridge WV Route 2 over Buffalo Creek at the south entrance to Wellsburg, the John G. Chernenko Bridge. He was further honored in 2009 when Brooke County Veterans Memorial Foundation name him Brooke County Veteran of the Year. He was also honored in 2012 by the Brooke Hancock Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission with the Bernie Kazienko Public Service Award in recognition of his service and commitment to the Upper Ohio Valley.
