High Five Interchange five level stack interchange with multiple overpasses in Dallas, Texas

An overpass (called a flyover in the United Kingdom and most Commonwealth countries) is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway. An overpass and underpass together form a grade separation.^[1] Stack interchanges are made up of many overpasses.

North America[link]

In North America, a flyover is a high-level overpass, built above main overpass lanes, or a bridge built over what had been an at-grade intersection. Traffic engineers usually refer to the latter as a grade separation. A flyover may also be an extra ramp added to an existing interchange, either replacing an existing cloverleaf loop (or being built in place of one) with a higher, faster ramp that bears left. Such a ramp may be built as a right or left exit. A cloverleaf or partial cloverleaf contains some 270 degree loops, slowing traffic and such loops are difficult to construct with more than multiple lanes. Where all such turns are replaced with flyovers (perhaps with some underpasses) only 90 degree turns are needed, and there may be four or more distinct levels of traffic. Depending upon design, traffic may flow in all directions at or near open road speeds (when not congested). For more examples see Freeway interchange.

Pedestrian[link]

A pedestrian overpass allows pedestrians safe crossing over busy roads without impacting traffic.

Railway[link]

Railway overpasses are used in North America to replace at-grade crossing as a safer alternative. Using overpasses allows for unobstructed rail traffic flow from mixing with vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

First railroad flyover[link]

The world's first railroad flyover was constructed in 1843 by the London and Croydon Railway at Norwood Junction railway station to carry its atmospheric railway vehicles over the Brighton Main Line.^[2]

Examples of overpasses (flyovers)

Overpasses near Barcelona   Overpass in Washington, D.C.   Sandgate Flyover, New South Wales, where two main railway lines pass over two dedicated coal lines   Flyover on Keelung Road in Taipei   New York State Thruway overpass   Pedestrian overpass, I-64, St. Louis, Missouri. This overpass is located at the St. Louis Science Center.

See also[link]

• Footbridge
• Skyway

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Overpass bridges

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Daniel D. Fernandez
100px   Daniel Fernandez, Medal of Honor
Born	(1944-06-30)June 30, 1944 Albuquerque, New Mexico
Died	February 18, 1966(1966-02-18) (aged 21) KIA in Hau Nghia Province, Republic of Vietnam
Place of burial	Santa Fe National Cemetery
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1962 - 1966
Rank	Specialist Four
Unit	5th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 25th Infantry Division
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Medal of Honor Purple Heart

Daniel D. Fernandez (June 30, 1944 – February 18, 1966) was a United States Army soldier in the Vietnam War who received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor. Fernandez was awarded the medal for his actions in Hậu Nghĩa province, Republic of Vietnam, in February 1966 — throwing himself on a live grenade, he sacrificed his life to save lives of the soldiers around him.

Biography[link]

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on June 30, 1944, Fernandez grew up in nearby Los Lunas.^[1][2] He had two younger brothers, Peter and James.^[2]

Fernandez joined the Army from Albuquerque in 1962^[3] and by 1966 was on his second tour of duty in Vietnam. During that deployment, he served as a specialist four in Company C, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment (Mechanized), 25th Infantry Division. On February 18, 1966, in Củ Chi, Hậu Nghĩa province, his 16-man patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and forced to fall back. Fernandez and two others volunteered to follow a sergeant back to the ambush site and rescue a wounded soldier who had been left behind. After reaching the injured man, the sergeant was shot in the knee and Fernandez took over command of the patrol. All five men were pinned down by heavy fire when a rifle grenade landed in their midst. In the scramble to get away from the device, Fernandez accidentally kicked it closer to the rest of the group. He then shouted "move out", jumped over the immobile sergeant, and threw himself on the grenade. He was killed in the resulting explosion, but successfully saved the lives of his fellow soldiers.^[1][2]

For this action, Fernandez was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in November 1966.^[2] He was the first of nine Mexican Americans to receive the medal in Vietnam.^[4]

A Requiem Mass was held for Fernandez at Los Lunas High School prior to his burial at Santa Fe National Cemetery.^[2] His name is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 05E, Row 046.^[5]

Honors[link]

In Fernandez's hometown of Los Lunas, a number of structures have been named in his honor. In March 1966, the newly-opened Los Lunas Junior High School was renamed Daniel Fernandez Junior High School in his honor. It has since been reorganized as Daniel Fernandez Intermediate School. A park and recreation facility, Daniel Fernandez Memorial Park, was dedicated in 1972. The local Veterans of Foreign Wars post bears his name, as does a road, Fernandez Street.^[2]

Students at Daniel Fernandez Intermediate School wrote of biography of him, titled Man of Honor: The Story of Daniel Fernandez, which was published in 2009 by Author House Publishing.^[2]

Medal of Honor citation[link]

His official Medal of Honor citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Sp4c. Fernandez demonstrated indomitable courage when the patrol was ambushed by a Viet Cong rifle company and driven back by the intense enemy automatic weapons fire before it could evacuate an American soldier who had been wounded in the Viet Cong attack. Sp4c. Fernandez, a sergeant and 2 other volunteers immediately fought their way through devastating fire and exploding grenades to reach the fallen soldier. Upon reaching their fallen comrade the sergeant was struck in the knee by machine gun fire and immobilized. Sp4c. Fernandez took charge, rallied the left flank of his patrol and began to assist in the recovery of the wounded sergeant. While first aid was being administered to the wounded man, a sudden increase in the accuracy and intensity of enemy fire forced the volunteer group to take cover. As they did, an enemy grenade landed in the midst of the group, although some men did not see it. Realizing there was no time for the wounded sergeant or the other men to protect themselves from the grenade blast, Sp4c. Fernandez vaulted over the wounded sergeant and threw himself on the grenade as it exploded, saving the lives of his 4 comrades at the sacrifice of his life. Sp4c. Fernandez' profound concern for his fellow soldiers, at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army and reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of his country.^[1]

See also[link]

	Biography portal
	United States Army portal

• List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War
• List of Hispanic Medal of Honor recipients

References[link]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Army Center of Military History.

External links[link]

• Daniel Fernandez, Medal of Honor at mishalov.com
• SP4 Daniel Fernandez by Rattler/Firebird Association