September 18, 2017 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members hosted the 2017 POW/MIA Recognition Day Program on the Center square before the Shelby County Veteran's Memorial September 15, 2017.
The program was led by Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, and he gave the opening prayer.
"On this day we salute the men and women who have served to keep America free and in doing so sacrificed their own freedom," said Hume. "To remember the families of the missing, we continue to hope and pray that their loved ones will someday be accounted for. We have over 83,000 American's since World War II missing or unaccounted for."
Gene Hutto, Post Commander, hung the memorial wreath as a thank you to all those who were prisoners of war or are now and are still missing in action.
Hume referenced there were 31 prisoners of war held during World War II and three during the Korean War who all were Shelby County citizens, three of which died while in captivity.
"The others lived through a terrible ordeal that we can't even imagine, and by the grace of God they returned home," said Hume.
He remarked all of those, but one listed in the program for the day have gone on to meet their maker. Marshall (Tex) Windham is the one he mentioned is still living and is an uncle of Danny Paul Windham.
Following a reading of the names of those who were prisoners of war and who are missing in action the POW/MIA flag which flies below the American flag throughout the year on the Center square was retired and replaced with a new one.
At that time Taps was played as presented by John Piersol.
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The following are the names of those who were prisoners of war as well as those who are missing in action -
Prisoners of War: Harlan F. Adams, World War II - German POW; Harold F. Beasley, World War II - Japanese POW; Thermon D. Brittain, Sr., World War II – Bataan Death March, Japanese POW; Frank M. Butler, World War II - German POW; Basil A. Coats, World War II - German POW; Sam Davis, Jr., World War II - German POW; Dr. Roy L. Emken, World War II - Bataan Death March, Japanese POW; Ray Emmons, World War II - German POW; Newell Evans, World War II - German POW; Clifford Gary, World War II - German POW; Calvin R. Hutto, World War II - Japanese POW; Audrey C. Jacobs, World War II - German POW; Jesse F. Kennedy, World War II - German POW; Johnnie M. Lee, World War II, Japanese POW - Died in Prison Camp; Paul D. Lucas, Korean War, North Korean POW; Dravis Massie, World War II - Japanese POW; Austin W. Mayes, World War II - German POW; Phillip E. Murphree, World War II - German POW; James H. Myers, World War II - Japanese POW; R.B. Neal, World War II - German POW; Truman B. Owens, World War II - German POW; George O. Rivers, World War II - Bataan Death March, Died in Japanese Prison Camp; Charles D. Rogers, World War II - Japanese POW; George B. Stutts, Jr., World War II - German POW; Vernon B. Walters, World War II - Bataan Death March, Died in Japanese Prison Camp; Henry L. Wilburn, World War II - German POW; Hulon Williams, World War II - German POW; R.L. Williams, World War II - German POW; Levi A. Williford, World War II - German POW; Marshall (Tex) Windham, World War II - German POW; John E. Woodfin, Sr., World War II - Japanese POW; Hubert L. Langford, Korean War - North Korean POW; Billy Lee Wescoat, Korean War - Chinese POW
Missing in Action: John W. Temple, WWI - Missing July 19, 1918, France; John C.B. Alford, World War II - Missing May 7, 1942, Pacific Theater; Lloyd L. Andrews, World War II - Missing December 25, 1944, European Theater; Lee O. Brunson, World War II - Missing December 8, 1944, European Theater; John B. Byrn, World War II - Missing August 24, 1943, European Theater; Philip H. Childs, World War II - Missing July 29, 1942, Pacific Theater; James A. Cleveland, World War II - Missing September 7, 1944, Pacific Theater; Lewis V. Dockens, World War II - Missing June 2, 1942, European Theater; Reed Dominy, World War II - Missing April 15, 1944, European Theater; Roy V. Duncan, World War II - Missing April 16, 1945, Pacific Theater; Hubert Haley, World War II - Missing May 14, 1942, European Theater; Pershing H. Harvey, World War II - Missing October 24, 1944; Walter B. Henry, World War II - Missing August 7, 1943, European Theater; Curtis Jolley, World War II - Missing October 24, 1944, Pacific Theater; Willie E. Lathon, World War II - Missing December 12, 1943, Pacific Theater; James A. McDaniel, World War II - Missing April 20, 1944, Pacific Theater; William L. Meek, World War II - Missing February 21, 1945, Pacific Theater; Kenneth N. Nicholson, World War II - Missing October 27, 1942; Darwin Risinger, World War II - Missing September 5, 1945, Pacific Theater; John C. Scott, World War II - Missing June 19, 1944, Pacific Theater; Choron Smotherman, World War II - Missing November 27, 1943, European Theater; Johnny F. Stack, World War II - Missing November 30, 1942, Pacific Theater; Richard M. Wallace, World War II - Missing July 26, 1942, European Theater; Robert H. Wharton, World War II - Missing November 20, 1943, Pacific Theater; Marion B. Whiteside, Jr., World War II - Missing October 19, 1942; Claude M. Wilkerson, World War II - Missing May 8, 1942, Pacific Theater; Elgie P. Williams, World War II - Missing December 6, 1943, Pacific Theater; Elmer E. Williams, World War II - Missing November 8, 1942, Pacific Theater; Ray D. Williams, World War II - Missing July 11, 1944, European Theater; Willie E. Windham, Korean War - Missing August 12, 1950, Korea.
