From left: Leigh Porterfield, Gene Hutto, (back) Clint Porterfield, Joy Hutto, Claudia Bailey, Mary Fausett, Theresa Hume, Carolyn Umbrell, Jan Ramsey, Larry Hume, Kenneth Ramsey, Richard Lundie, and Mike Wulf
September 9, 2022 - Thirty-seven names were read aloud during the V.J. Day Observance on September 2, 2022 on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse.
VFW Post 8904 and the Auxiliary began the V.J. Day observance with a prayer given by Post Chaplain Kenneth Ramsey, “We are here today to pay tribute to the men and women of our Nation who served in the Pacific during WWII. They answered the call of duty with courage by offering themselves.”
Post Quartermaster Larry Hume said, “Thank you all for being here this morning as we observe the 77th anniversary of the formal surrender of Japan aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. This day is commonly known as V.J. Day. As part of the surrender ceremonies aboard the U.S.S. Missouri a broadcast of President Harry Truman was played to the troops. In part, President Truman said, ‘My fellow Americans, and Supreme Allied Commander, General MacArther, in Tokyo Bay: The thoughts and hopes of all America — indeed of all the civilized world — are centered tonight on the battleship Missouri. There on that small piece of American soil anchored in Tokyo Harbor the Japanese have just officially laid down their arms. They have signed terms of unconditional surrender. Four years ago, the thoughts and fears of the whole civilized world were centered on another piece of American soil — Pearl Harbor. The mighty threat to civilization which began there is now laid to rest. It was a long road to Tokyo and a bloody one. We shall not forget Pearl Harbor. The Japanese militarists will not forget the U.S.S. Missouri. The evil done by the Japanese war lords can never be repaired or forgotten.’ And you know that last sentence by President Truman is why we are here today — the evil done can never be forgotten. Those sacrificed and served can also never be forgotten.”
Jan Ramsey read the first set of names being remembered
Members of the post and auxiliary then took turns reading the names of Shelby County Veterans who were lost in the Pacific War. Of those remembered, there were 7 buried overseas and 15 who are missing-in-action. Of those remembered and who were returned home, there were 12 buried in Shelby County, 2 buried in Texas, and 1 buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
In remembrance a memorial wreath was hung at the Veterans Memorial on the grounds of the Historic Courthouse by Post Member Mike Wulf.
Those remembered were:
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 H. - 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, India
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
Miller, John R. - Killed in Action April 9, 1945, Philippines
Mitchell, Thomas T. - Killed in Action April 2, 1945, Philippines
Odom, Joe L. - Killed in Action July 8, 1944, Saipan
Nicholson, Kenneth N. - Missing in Action October 27, 1942
Rhodes, Ben R. - Killed in Action July 28, 1942, Pacific
Risinger, Darwin - Missing in Action September 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
Wilkerson, Claude M. - Missing in Action May 8, 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
Names were read by Auxiliary Chaplain Jan Ramsey, Auxiliary President Mary Fausett, Post Commander Richard Lundie, and Auxiliary Treasurer Theresa Hume.
Richard Lundie, Post Commander, reading names remembered
During the ceremony, Hume called A.J. Procell, a Shelby County native who was a 21-year old sailor and was there 77 years ago in Tokyo Bay aboard the U.S.S. North Caroline. He is now 98 years old and lives in a Northwest Louisiana Veterans Home in Bossier City. Hume said, "Our original plans was to be with him there today but due to an active Covid case at the Veterans home, they could not host us as planned." Procell answered his phone and after hellos and Hume letting him know we were thinking about him, he said, "God Bless y'all!" and "Hot dog!" as he was getting off the phone.
