November 1, 2002

Looking Back On Oroville’s Heroes

By Stu Shaner

These stories are about the men and women who went to war so that we might be free.

Oroville Mercury January 18, 1945

WATTS HONORED FOR HIS SON

Wade H. Watts of Oroville Wednesday was presented the Air Medal and oak leaf cluster for his son, Staff Sgt. Lawrence E. Watts, missing in action. The award was made by Col. A.W. Tyer, Chico Army Air Field Commander, during a military review at the field. Sgt. Watts was a member of the Eight Air Force in the European theatre. The award to him was for "exceptionally meritorious achievement while participating in bomber missions over enemy occupied Continental Europe.”

GAMBREL DOING RADIO WORK IN NAVY TRAINING SCHOOL

Thomas R. Gambrel, RM 3-C, has writ- ten the Mercury that he enjoys reading the news about the homefolks. He is now stationed at a naval base at Manteo, N.C., and expects to be there for some time. He was born and raised in Oroville and graduated from the Oroville high school. After   graduation he was employed by Montgomery Ward for a short time and then enrolled at Oroville high school for a course in electricity. He played the piano and was pianist for Oroville Rotary Club for four years. He enlisted in the Navy in April, 1944 and was sent to San Diego.  From there he went to Texas A. M. College for training in radio work.

OLINGHOUSE NOW AT SANTA ANA ARMY AIR BASE

Santa Ana, Calif. - Tech. Fourth Grade Malcolm I. Olinghouse, son of Mrs. Esther E. Olinghouse, Oroville, is assigned to the AAF redistribution station of the Santa Ana Air Base after having served overseas as a weather observer. Sgt. Olinghouse, a one-time student of U.C.L.A., entered the service on Sept. 1, 1942 and went overseas in July, 1943. He has been stationed in Greenland. While at Santa Ana Army Air Base returned veterans from overseas air forces receive complete medical examinations, reclassification according to military skills and are reassigned to domestic stations of the AAF.

PUPILS GET REWARD FOR PAPER DRIVE

School children who helped to fill the big carload of scrap paper Fast week will receive a reward tomorrow afternoon when the State Theatre will put on a special feature matinee for all who made the quota. At the special request of the Salvage Committee, Manager W. E. Tooley was able to secure the Buffalo Bill picture as the leading feature. Motion picture authorities agreed to release the popular number when informed of the accomplishment of Oroville boys and girls in meeting the emergency. Two lively cartoons and a popular short will complete the two-hour program beginning at 2:30 o'clock. A check-up of the various rooms this morning showed the Oroville school collected 25 tons of the shipment. Bird Street school delivered a total of 31,495 pounds; Burbank 10,120, while Eastside bought in more than 12,000. The biggest room score was at Bird Street where Mrs. Meyers' 8th graders accounted for 5,495 pounds. Miss Clark's 5 grade pupils roiled up a score of 4,654. At Burbank, Principal McAndrews'  6th grade produced 3,180 pounds of the Burbank total. Individual high scores were by Bill Reeves, credited with Justice Hills donation of 1,100 pounds and Wilford Anglin who solicited a ton from the post office. The carload shipped on Saturday was the third sent from Oroville since Oct. 9.

OROVILLE AIRPORT BOYS TO BE FETED By BFW

The annual dinner for the boys stationed at the Oroville Airport will be given by the Business and Professional Women's Club Tuesday evening, Jan. 23, at Oroville Inn. All members are asked to attend and help give the boys an evening of fun.

Stu's notes: Right after last week's article about Eugene W. Carter Jr. came out about his sister, who still lives in Oroville, called to tell " that her brother never came to Oroville”. But, we’ll see that he gets a special brick at our Memorial. Many times those listed as M.I.A. were P.O.Ws Let's hope this is the case with Staff Sgt. Lawrence E. Watts.