Pictured are (from left) Derrick Roberts, Linda Lundie, Richard Lundie, Sean Martin and Larry Hume.
September 19, 2025 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary members gathered at the Shelby County Veterans Memorial September 19, 2025, in observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day.
"This third Friday off September as we salute the men and women who served to keep America free and in doing so sacrificed their own freedom and to remember the families of the missing we continue to hope and pray that their loved ones will some day be accounted for," said Hume.
Larry Hume, Post Adjutant, welcomed everyone to the program and offered an opening prayer. Hume continued by also remembering the families of those lost who hope and pray that one day their loved one will one day be accounted for.
Hume said there currently are over 83,000 Americans listed as missing and unaccounted for going back to World War II.
"Shelby County, Texas has had 39 of her citizens held as prisoners of war, 35 from World War II and four from the Korean War," said Hume. "Three of them died in captivity, while the others lived through a terrible ordeal that we cannot imagine. By the grace of God they returned home. They have all passed now from this life and we remember them today."
Hume stated that currently known to us there are also 31 Shelby County veterans still missing in action from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, and their names are carried on the Department of Defense Rolls as such.
"John W. Temple has been missing in action from World War I for over 107 years, and it's our sincere hope that one day they will be returned to their families and this community of Shelby County," said Hume.
A memorial wreath was placed on the Shelby County Veterans Memorial by Post Commander Derrick Roberts.
Taps was then played as presented by Post Chaplain Richard Lundie.
Prisoners of War:
Harlan F. Adams, World War II - German POW
Haskell Beard, World War II - German POW
Harold F. Beasley, World War II - Japanese POW
Sharkey Brown, Jr., 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
Oran J. Childs, World War II - Bataan Death March, Japanese 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
Hilton Hooper, 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
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
Sherman S. Pickard, 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 - Bataan Death March, Japanese POW
Hubert L. Langford, Korean War - North Korean POW
Paul D. Lucas, Korean War, North Korean POW
Leonard Scott, 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
Cecil A. Armstreet, World War II - August 31, 1942, Atlantic Ocean
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
Woodrow W. Moro, World War II - Missing May 5, 1942, Gulf of Mexico
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.
