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Story and Video: Marshall County Veterans Day Ceremony Celebrates Homecoming Of WWII POW

By Shelley Hanson 4 min read

MOUNDSVILLE — World War II soldier Raymond Carl Richmond made his final journey home on Veterans Day Wednesday.

As his remains were being escorted from the Pittsburgh Airport, Moundsville area residents and officials dedicated their annual Veterans Day ceremony to honoring him outside the Marshall County Courthouse. 

Richmond, a World War II prisoner of war who died in a Japanese prison camp, was born Oct. 19, 1919, in Cameron. He graduated from Moundsville High School in 1939. He and wife, Alberta Christina “Bert” Wade Klug, had a home in Proctor in Wetzel County. They had no children. He was 25 when he died overseas.

Richmond was a technical sergeant and flight engineer in the U.S. Army Air Forces during WWII. He served with the 881st Bombardment Squadron, 500th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), Twentieth Air Force. He flew aboard the B-29 Superfortress, which had 11 crew members and was based in Saipan in the Pacific. 

Richmond's aircraft was shot down April 2, 1945, and he was captured by Japanese forces and taken to the Tokyo Military Prison on April 16, 1945. On May 26, 1945, he was killed during the firebombing of Tokyo that also hit the prison. Richmond’s remains were identified July 7 by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

During the Veterans Day morning ceremony in Moundsville, several dignitaries spoke about Richmond, his sacrifice, his fellow soldiers’ sacrifice and about how all veterans should be thanked and honored. 

Danielle Harmon, a retired United States Air Force master sergeant, served as emcee for the gathering. 

“We gather for a homecoming 81 years in the making,” she said. “On the day we set aside for honoring all of those who have served our nation, we are privileged to welcome home Raymond Carl Richmond. He did not return home with his generation. Today, he returns with ours.

“For 81 years, the final flight of Raymond Richmond’s journey remained unfinished.

“Today, that journey ends here among his family, his fellow veterans and the community he once called home. And so, with gratitude and reverence, we say the words that have waited far too long to be spoken; Tech. Sgt. Raymond Carl Richmond, welcome home.”

Gary Rider, president of the Marshall County historical society, talked about Richmond’s service. Sgt. Zachary Allman and Marshall County Administrator Besty Frohnapfel both talked about the men Richmond served with, his 11-man crew.

Moundsville City Manager Rick Healy offered a tribute to Richmond on behalf of the city. Moundsville Mayor Randy Chamberlain read a poem, “High flight” by John Magee Jr. of the royal Canadian Air Force. Sgt. Jim Robinson, former POW, conducted the POW/MIA service. The Rev. Jenna Moon conducted the invocation and benediction.

The Moundsville Honor Guard presented and retired the colors. The Moundsville Boy Scouts helped present three wreaths with the Marshall County Commissioners and handed programs and flags for the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, Richmond’s remains arrived at Grisell Funeral Home at about 2:45 p.m. The procession included several law enforcement and fire department vehicles and members of the Patriot Guard Riders. A crowd gathered along Jefferson Avenue to welcome Richmond home.

Moundsville Honor Guard members and Joe Richmond, a great nephew of Raymond Richmond, served as pallbearers, carrying Richmond’s casket from the hearse into the funeral home.

Outside, New Martinsville resident Mary Tennant said her mother, Alberta Christina “Bert” Wade Klug, was Richmond’s wife. After he died, she remarried and had seven children with her new husband. 

“She married him at 19 and was widowed at 21,” Tennant said, adding it was “wonderful” to finally have Richmond come home.

“I almost cried,” she said. “My mom would have been very happy that he’s home. My mom always said, ‘I had the grand privilege of being totally in love with two men in my whole life.’ She was a wonderful, wonderful woman. We are just here to represent her.” 

Klug died at age 48 after a battle with cancer.

Visitation for Richmond is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Grisell Funeral Home, Moundsville, where the funeral service is set for 11 a.m. Saturday.

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