VFW Post 8904 Remembers D-Day; Ramsey Places Wreath

June 7, 2021 - Rain didn't stop the Shelby County Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8904 and the Auxiliary from holding a memorial ceremony in remembrance of the 77th Anniversary of D-Day on Friday, June 4th, 2021 at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the 1885 Historic Shelby County Courthouse in Center.

On June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foothold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high - more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded - but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

In remembrance of those from Shelby County who were in Europe on D-Day or just after, their names were remembered by members of the Post:

  • Nolan Anderson, 507 Parachute Infantry, KIA June 12, 1944
  • Marlin D. Manshack, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach June 11, 1944 BSM, PH
  • Richard D. Bray, 315 Infantry Regiment, Utah Beach, KIA July 11, 1944
  • John W. Minter, 9 Infantry Regiment, Utah Beach, KIA July 9, 1944
  • Maron L. Brittain, US Army, Normandy, Wounded
  • Arlen R. Rhame, 67 Armor Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA July 28, 1944
  • Fred D. Dry, 1 Infantry Division, Omaha Beach BSM (Valor)
  • Pershing Pate, 38 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, KIA June 8, 1944
  • Hulen M. Hardage, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA August 22, 1944
  • Jack T. Powell, 358 Infantry Regiment, D-Day, Utah Beach, KIA July 6, 1944
  • James R. Kirkland, 401 Glider Infantry, Jumped D-Day, KIA September 30, 1944
  • Sidney E. Watson, 117 Infantry Regiment, Omaha Beach, June 11, 1944, KIA August 22, 1944
  • Charles L. Mims, 1st Army, D-Day, Normandy
  • E.C. White, 507 Parachute Infantry, Jumped D-Day, Wounded, Died in accident July 4, 1944

Laying the memorial wreath was Post Surgeon Kenneth Ramsey followed by the playing of Taps presented by Gene Hutto, Post Commander.