July 26, 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. This column is dedicated to all our Veterans. It will use articles taken from past Oroville Mercury Registers.

 

December 13,1944, Elks Honor War Dead

At memorial services held by the Elks Lodge last evening for departed members, Ernest Clewe, leader of the service, made special mention of Howard Gould, Jack Flatter and Lt. E. L. Harris, Elks brothers who had lost their lives in the service of their country. Over 150 Elks attended the turkey dinner served earlier in the evening. Entertainment by different members was given at interludes. The lodge initiated a class of sixteen.

 

December 13, 1944, Pfc. Boyet Wins Purple Heart

Pfc. William E. Boyet, 20, has received the Purple Heart medal for wounds received in action at Saipan, Marianas Islands, June 28,1944. Boyet sent the medal to his mother, Mrs. Hassie Dobson on Lincoln Blvd., and also the notification of the award made in the name of the President by the commanding General of the Second Marine Division. In an accompanying letter Boyet said that he had recovered and told his mother not to worry. He has been in the service 14 months. He is a graduate of Oroville High School, '42. He worked at Feather Falls and later as a machinist, in shipyards at Portland and San Francisco, prior to his military service.

Stu's note: The Class of '42 is having its 60th reunion Sept. 21, 2002.

 

Also, on the home front:

January 24, 1945, Enough Cans to Fill Box Car are on Hand

Ed Metcalf (volunteer) of the Oroville Soda Works said this morning that nearly enough tin to fill a box car has been accumulated at his warehouse. The biggest difficulty now appears to be getting transportation for it. The cans gathered by the children at the schools and those deposited at the stores are called for by Metcalf and held until a sufficient amount has accumulated. It is then shipped to South San Francisco where a chemical process is used to separate the tin from other metals in order that it may again be available for essential use.

 

January, 24, 1945, Lions Build Up Fund to Aid Post-War Vet

With a surplus fund of $400 for cigarettes for servicemen and no cigarettes available, the Oroville Lions Club will use the sum as the nucleus of a post war fund for war veterans. Veterans seeking financial help from the, fund will be referred for certification to the Veterans of Foreign Wars post-war board. The fund will be supplemented by money collected through the contribution, coffee jars that have been placed by the Lions in Local business places. Proceeds from the bingo games now being conducted by the VFW will also be used in a parallel project.

 

Bill Brown, Seabee, Due to Arrive Home

Bill Brown, Chief Carpenter's Mate in the Seabees, is scheduled to arrive home tonight after 22 months overseas. Brown was formerly manager of the Sterling Lumber Company here. He was last stationed in the Schouten Islands in the South Pacific.