WSLS Honors Four World War II Veterans
Four World War II veterans with Southwest Virginia ties were recognized during Virginia's Veterans Parade 2026.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Military Jobs
WSLS recognized four World War II veterans with ties to Southwest Virginia during Virginia's Veterans Parade 2026. The honorees include Marion Grey Noel, John Eakin, Jack Cassell and James Flinchum.
Why it matters
The recognition highlights the service of Virginia residents who served in World War II and the contributions of local veterans to the state's history. It also draws attention to the personal stories of Southwest Virginians who shaped postwar life in the region.
Marion Grey Noel worked 35 years for the U.S. Postal Service and retired in 1985 after serving aboard LST-779 during World War II. Four veterans with Southwest Virginia ties were recognized, and the extraction does not indicate how many other veterans attended the parade.
The players
WSLS
WSLS is a television station in Roanoke, Virginia, that reported on the recognition of the veterans during the state's parade.
Marion Grey Noel
Marion Grey Noel was a Navy veteran who served aboard LST-779 during World War II and later worked for the U.S. Postal Service.
The details
Marion Grey Noel served aboard LST-779, which participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and supplied the flag in the second Mount Suribachi flag-raising photograph. John Eakin, drafted at age 19, served with the 34th Infantry Division, while Jack Cassell and James Flinchum also served during the war.
Timeline
1923: James Flinchum was born near Willis, Virginia.
1924: John Eakin was born in Catawba, Virginia.
1925: Marion Grey Noel was born near Eagle Rock, Virginia.
1944: Jack Cassell enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
1946: Noel was honorably discharged in May 1946 and Eakin was discharged as a staff sergeant.
Historical Thread
LST-779's supply of the flag in the Mount Suribachi photograph ties a Virginia-born sailor to one of the most reproduced images of World War II. The recognition adds local detail to that wartime record for Virginia readers.
Virginia residents with military backgrounds may find the honorees' post-service careers, including decades of Postal Service work, relevant to their own transitions. The story underscores how state-level recognition events bring local service histories to public attention.
The takeaway
Veterans' post-service careers often span decades of civilian work, as the case of Marion Grey Noel's 35 years with the Postal Service shows. Readers interested in veteran employment can use this kind of record to understand how military experience carries into civilian life.
Further reading
Explore more on Military Jobs for context on how veterans have built careers after service.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSLS.
