It has been 75 years since Willie B. Hatcher, of McDonough, was killed in service to his country. Hatcher was the first McDonough casualty of WWII.

  Hatcher was assigned to the 97th Engineer General Support Group located at Manila, Philippines. On active duty, Hatcher achieved the rank of Technician Fifth Class. Hatcher was killed in action on November 1, 1944.

  He is buried at the United States Manila American Cemetery located in Manila, Philippines. His final resting place is Burial Plot F, Row 14, Grave 93.

  Hatcher was honored on Sunday, October 20, at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Inter- national Airport with a ceremony welcoming home Carolyn Lewis, Tyrone Ancrum and Phillip Stewart, American Legion Post 516 delegation members who traveled  8,724 miles to the Philippines to visit Willie B. Hatcher’s graveside.

  “This was an experience I will never forget,” said Carolyn Lewis, Post Member. “I am glad we were able to memorialize him and fly flags in his honor.”

  Members from the American Legion Post 516 and McDonough Mayor Billy Copeland were just a few of the many in attendance.

  Six years in the making, American Legion Post 516 has been working hard to raise the necessary funds to send over a delegation to visit Hatcher’s graveside. This trip marked the first time in 75 years that anyone has visited Hatcher’s resting place.

  “I teared up a bit on the bus ride up here,” said Alton Head, Post Commander. “It means so much to me to see this day.”

  Head remembers the promise he made to Hatcher’s son many years ago, while on his deathbed. He promised Hatcher’s family that he would try to bring his remains back from the Philippines.

  “I have done as much as I could within my power to bring him home. I gave them my word,” said Head. “We even went all the way to the White House. I have done everything humanly possible to fulfill my promise.”

  Following Hatcher’s death, his wife signed a document in 1945 stating that Hatcher could be buried in the Philippines. Despite appeals to various agencies over the years, Post 516 received a final denial from the White House in June of 2019 stating that Hatcher’s remains cannot be repatriated to the United States.

  The mission was for the delegation members to get close to Hatcher’s graveside, collect some dirt from his grave, lay a wreath, and fly multiple flags over Hatcher’s resting place in honor of his memory.

  “It is a huge accomplishment that we are able to help the family to have some type of closure,” said Charlie Jackson, Post Member. “Dirt from his grave symbolizes that we have met that commitment not to leave him behind.”

  The dirt that was brought back from Willie B. Hatcher’s grave will be memorialized in the City of McDonough cemetery where family and members of the community can come and visit.

  “He’ll be buried on southern soil where he grew up and where he lived for many, many years,” said Mayor Billy Copland, of the City of McDonough. “Having the opportunity to honor him is the opportunity of a lifetime.”

  Hatcher lived on Highway 42 in McDonough with parents Bernie and Rosa Hatcher. Willie B. Hatcher worked as a farm hand until he was drafted on June 26, 1941. He was married and was awaiting the birth of his son, Willie James Hardy.

  “By bringing back a flag that has flown over his grave, it is a momento that his family can have forever,” said Eddie Felton, Post Member.

  One of the flags brought back from the Philippines will be given to Hatcher’s family, while the other will be flown in front of American Legion Post 516.

“I was pleased at the way everything was done and I was amazed at the response and support from the city. I think the guys at 516 are awesome and I am very grateful,” said Patrick Hardy Sr., grandson of Willie B. Hatcher.

  “To see this happen was a closure for me and my family. Now I have something new to show my grandkids,” said Hardy. “Not a lot of people can say that something like this happened to their family. I can say that I was a part of history.”

  This trip coincides with the renaming of Legion Road in McDonough to Willie B. Hatcher Boulevard.

  A memorial service for Willie B. Hatcher will take place in the upcoming weeks at Shiloh Baptist Church.