D Day memories from Richlands veterans of 82nd Airborne
Richlands resident Tom Hagg of the 82nd Airborne recalls the Normandy invasion. He describes boarding C-47s on May 6 and parachuting at 1 p.m. facing flak, fighting around Ste. Mere Eglise and Grandcamp, and his later service in Holland and Belgium. Horton, a Raven miner, details Omaha Beach landings, seasickness, bazooka work, and the road to Vermilion opened, with reminders of war’s cost. War is Hell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richlands
Tom Hagg
82Nd Airborne
505
English Channel
Hagg
John Edward Crane
England
155
Horton
Raven
Vermil
Crane
82Nd
Ste. Mere Eglise
France
4Th Infantry
Utah Beach
Grandcamp
C.O
Normandy
Holland
101 Division
Germany
Belgium
Sherman
Firefighter Shrader Laid To Rest In Mercer County
Firefighters rescue squad members and community mourned as Shrader, a 34 year old Mercer County public servant and emergency responder, was laid to rest at a Princeton cemetery. A procession of fire apparatus from Mercer County departments, Bluefield and Princeton, state police and others formed two tribute lines. ERVFD Chief Nelson Short accepted the folded flag for Shrader’s widow, Karen. The service featured a bell ringing ritual and music by Stoker. ERVFD held a luncheon, and the family requested donations to East River Volunteer Fire Department.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mercer County
Bluefield
Princeton
Conservation Service
Olf
Shrader
Princeton Police Department
Bluefield Fire Department
Beckley Fire Department
East River Volunteer Fire Department
Beckley
ERVFD
Nelson Short
Karen
Michael Smith
Tommy Keatley
Smith
Keatley
Robbie Shorter
Athens Volunteer Fire Department
Shorter
Dana Hambrick
Doctors reach unanimous plan on surgeon pay and cooperation
The board and surgeons at PCH approved a cooperative, cost neutral plan to address liability and reimbursements for physician services. Key figures Mathena and Lilly pushed for input from the medical staff, including on call coverage and non insured patient care, with Werblin calling it a win win for all parties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mathena
PCH
Tom Lilly
Lilly
Theodore Werblin
Surgical Department
Werblin
Hospital
Law enforcement awards honor local officers and staff
Robert Holroyd cited sobering West Virginia and national stats on officers killed and assaulted as Bluefield Princeton Mercer County security personnel and hospital security staff were thanked. Spouses and “Top Dogs” received recognition while Chief Casey Martin announced awards to former prosecutors and a judge for service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Holroyd
Mercer County
West Virginia
America
Bluefield
Princeton
Mercer County Sheriff’s Department
State Police
Bluefield State College
Concord College
Bluefield Regional Medical Center
Princeton Community Hospital
St. Luke’s Hospital
Casey Martin
David Burton
Charles R. Smith
David Knight
Also Mentioned on This Page
U.S. National Archives
Eisenhower
16Th Infantry Regiment
Omaha Beach
U.S. National
Stoker
Amazing Grace
A-1
IRS
Jkharris.com
Wall Street
J. JK Harris & Company
Blue Bluefield
W. Virginia
Priddy’s ManuFacturing
Sophia
Labor
Abbey Carpets
Mercer Mall
Sun
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!