September 7, 2018 - In recognition of Victory Over Japan Day, members of VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on the Center square Monday, September 3, 2018.
The ceremony was led by Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, and the opening prayer was offered by Cynthia Islas, Post Chaplain.
Hume informed all present, the gathering was celebrating the 73rd anniversary of the formal surrender of the Japanese aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. He introduced A.J. Procell, who was aboard the U.S.S. North Carolina in Tokyo Bay when the treaty was signed.
Procell related for the audience some important dates of his service, and he told of the surrender of the Japanese. Following hi account, Procell hung a memorial wreath and he was assisted by Newton Johnson, Jr., VFW Post 8904 Senior Vice Commander. A list of Shelby County World War II Veterans who died in service while in the Pacific Theater was read.
Jesse Griffith, Joaquin Volunteer Fireman, was in attendance for the event and he was there with one of the Joaquin Volunteer Fire Departments newest fire trucks. Previous to the ceremony beginning, veterans could be seen writing something on the truck. Hume invited Griffith to speak on what the presence of the truck was all about.
"The military donates these used trucks to fire departments. This is a deuce and a half that was donated to the Joaquin [Volunteer] Fire Department," said Griffith. "We had it painted and the guy that painted it when he painted underneath it said it had some battle scars from when it was in the desert."
Griffith explained the fire department's chief, Perry Pugh, had the idea to call the truck "The Patriot" and display flags on it from every branch of the military, and the POW/MIA flag.
"We're taking it around to the veterans, letting the veterans sign that to show our respect to the veterans, and when we finish getting veterans signatures we're going to take and have a clear coat put over the front of it so it doesn't mess up any names," said Griffith.
Taps was played as presented by John Piersol.
A list of Shelby County World War II Veterans who died in service while in the Pacific Theater was read during the ceremony, and they are as follows:
- Alford, John C.B. - Missing in Action May 7, 1942
- Allen, Ernest W. - Killed in Action September 4, 1943, Philippines
- Beckham, James L. - Killed in Action April 26, 1945, Okinawa
- Ceal, Rayford - Killed in Action February 7, 1945, Philippines
- Childs, Philip - Missing in Action July 28, 1942
- Cleveland, James A. - Missing in Action September 7, 1944
- Collum, Royce C. - Killed in Action April 11, 1945, Okinawa
- Crausby, Marvin K. - Killed in Action August 8, 1943
- Compton, Bobbie B. - Killed in Action July 14, 1944, Philippines
- Crump, Bobby A. - Killed in Action May 30, 1945, Okinawa
- Duncan, Roy V. - Missing in Action April 16, 1945
- Essery, Robert H - Killed in Action April 23, 1945, Pacific
- Harvey, Pershing H. - Missing in Action October 24, 1944
- Herndon, Ralph - Killed in Action April 8, 1945, Philippines
- Holt, Dudley D. - Killed in Action May 16, 1945, Philippines
- Johnson, Leroy - Killed in Action January 26, 1945, Luzon
- Jolley, Curtis - Missing in Action October 24, 1944
- Lathon, Willie E. - Missing in Action December 12, 1943
- McCallum, Bryan Jr. - Killed in Action March 1, 1945, Iwo Jima
- Meek, William L. - Missing in Action February 21, 1945
- Miller, John R. - Killed in Action April 9, 1945, Philippines
- Mitchell, Thomas T. - April 2, 1945, Philippines
- Nicholson, Kenneth N. - Missing in Action October 27, 1942
- Rhodes, Ben R. - Killed in Action July 28, 1942, Pacific
- Risinger, Darwin - Missing in Action May 5, 1945, Plane Crash
- Scott, John C. - Missing in Action June 19, 1944
- Snider, Rennie C. - Killed in Action August 3, 1944, Marianas
- Spurlock, Luther M - Killed in Action January 23, 1943, Samoa
- Stack, Johnie - Missing in Action November 30, 1942
- Tindol, James P. - Killed in Action June 25, 1944, Saipan
- Webb, Arvin - Killed in Action December 19, 1945, New Guinea
- Wharton, Robert H. - Missing in Action November 20, 1943
- Whiteside, Marion B. Jr. - Missing in Action October 19, 1942
- Williams, Eligie P. - Missing in Action December 6, 1943
- Windham, Melvin T. - Killed in Action April 4, 1945, Luzon
- Winfrey, Sil Jr. - Died Aircraft Crash May 9, 1945, Australia
- Wilkerson, Claude M. - Missing in Action May 8, 1942
