September 3, 2015
VFW Post 8904 and Lady Auxiliary members are seen with the Procell family during the VJ Day event. Pictured are
(from left) Larry Hume John Piersol, Mike Langford, Mary Fausett, Joy Hutto, Gene Hutto, Ingrid Procell, Greg Procell,
A.J. Procell, Les Gill, Becky Maidic, Bill Gray, Jason Sanford, Charles Kreisel and Jim Cox.
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15 Shelby County Soldiers Missing or Killed in Action 2nd Lt. Kenneth N. Nicholson, U.S. Army Air Force - missing in action Oct. 27, 1942. |
Victory Over Japan Day was recognized on Wednesday, September 2, 2015 on the Center square with members of VFW Post 8904 and Ladies Auxiliary as well as members of the public in attendance.
Larry Hume, Post Quartermaster, led the ceremony and referenced a portion of the radio broadcast of President Harry Truman's address in particular "The evil done by the Japanese war lords can never be repaired or forgotten," and Hume continued, "in that last sentence by President Truman is why we are here today, that evil can never be undone and never can be forgotten and those who sacrificed and served can also not be forgotten."
(Read President Truman address by clicking on this link, hear President Truman address by clicking on this link)
Honored during the ceremony were 15 Shelby County World War II Veterans who served in the Pacific, and were killed in action and now buried overseas or remain missing in action. Reading the 15 names aloud were Jason Sanford, Post Chaplain; Becky Maidic, Ladies Auxiliary member; and Mary Fausett, Ladies Auxiliary member.
Following the reading of names, Hume remarked that two of the names listed, Curtis Jolley and Pershing Harvey, are linked in history. They were 7,500 miles away from Shelby County in the same POW camp in the Philippines. They were also on the same "Hell Ship" being transported to Japan when it was torpedoed by an American submarine which was unaware of the prisoners held within. Both men perished on that ship.
A.J. Procell served in the United States Navy during World War II aboard the USS North Carolina in Tokyo Bay when the signing took place aboard the USS Missouri. Procell remarked there were over 3,000 ships in Yokohama Harbor on the day of the official surrender September 2, 1945 including American, Allied and Japanese ships.
Procell explained everything going on aboard the USS Missouri could be seen from the USS North Carolina including Admiral Chester W. Nimitz and General Douglas MacArthur during the signing of surrender with 12 Japanese representatives on the other side of the table, "Then, when they got through signing, well we all clapped our hands and thanked God for what was happening."
Following Procell's retelling of the signing of surrender and some history of his military career, he hung the memorial wreath on the Shelby County Memorial in honor of all veterans who served in the Pacific. TAPS was played as presented by Mike Langford and then Gene Hutto, Post Commander, presented Procell with a certificate commemorating his service in World War II.
 A.J. Procell was presented with a certificate commemorating his service in World War II. Pictured are (from left) A.J. Procell (middle) along with his daughter Ingrid Procell (left) and son Greg Procell (right). |
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