September 1, 2023 - VFW Post 8904 and Auxiliary observed Victory Over Japan Day on the Center square in front of the Shelby County Veterans Memorial on September 1, 2023, for the 78th anniversary of the formal surrender of the Japanese aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay.
Richard Lundie, Post Commander, offered the opening prayer.
Mike Wulf, Post Sr. Vice, led the program and recited the speech of President Harry Truman which was broadcast via radio during the ceremony on the USS Missouri. Wulf shared some of what President Truman said in his address.
President Truman said in part "My fellow Americans, and the Supreme Allied Commander General MacArthur 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, the Japanese have just officially laid down their arms, they've signed the 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 the civilization which began there, is now laid at rest. It was a long road to Tokyo, and a bloody one. We shall not forget Pearl Harbor, and the Japanese military will not forget the USS Missouri. The evil done by the Japanese war lords can never be repaired or forgotten,"
The last sentence by President Truman is why we are here today, "The evil can not be forgotten. Those who sacrificed and served can also never be forgotten."
(Hear President Truman address by clicking on this link)
"Today we honor Shelby County World War II Veterans who served in the Pacific, and were killed in action, or are still missing in action after so many years," said Wulf.
Honored during the ceremony were 37 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 37 names aloud were members of the Post and Auxiliary.
State Representative Travis Clardy, who was present for the event, shared thoughts of his father who served in the Pacific during World War II. Representative Clardy then placed the memorial wreath upon the Shelby County Veterans Memorial.
2015 Video of A.J. Procell sharing his experience aboard the USS Missouri
Shelby County Veterans Lost in Pacific War - Buried Overseas (7) or Missing in Action (15) Buried in Shelby County (12) Buried in Texas (2) Buried in Arlington National Cemetery (1)
- 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 15, 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
- Harvery, 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 8, 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
