VFW Post 8904 Observes POW/MIA Recognition Day; Judge Harbison Places Wreath


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September 21, 2021 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary gathered at the Historic 1885 Shelby County Courthouse before the Shelby County Veterans Memorial September 17, 2021, in observance of POW/MIA Recognition Day.

"[We] are honored to be here with you today, this third Friday of September, as we salute the men and women who served to keep America free and in doing so sacrificed their own freedom," said Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster.

Hume continued by also remembering the families of those lost who hope that one day their loved one will one day be accounted for.

"Right now there are still 83,000 Americans missing, and unaccounted for going back to the second world war," said Hume.


In honor of the day and those who remain missing, Shelby County Judge Allison Harbison placed the memorial wreath on the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.

"Shelby County, Texas has had 38 of her citizens held as prisoners of war, 35 from World War II and three from the Korean War," said Hume. "Three of those died in captivity, while others lived through a terrible ordeal that we cannot even imagine, and by the grace of God returned home."

Hume stated all have since passed away. Each of those in attendance for the program were presented with a list of names to each take a turn reading them aloud. 

"Currently there are 31 Shelby County veterans still missing in action from World War I, World War II, and one from the Korean War. Our World War I missing in action have been missing for 103 years," said Hume. "Their names are carried on the Department of Defense rolls as such."

Hume remarked it is the sincere hope of VFW Post 8904 members that one day the missing are returned to their familes and to Shelby County. 


Upon completion of the reading of the Prisoner of War and Missing in Action names, Auxiliary members then set the Missing Man table (See video above). This was followed by the retirement and replacement of the POW/MIA flag, which has flown in front of the courthouse for the past year.

Taps was then played as presented by Mike Langford, VFW Post member.

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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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.