September 20,2002

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. Many of those mentioned in these stories came home. But as you will learn, many young Oroville men did not. They gave the ultimate sacrifice.

Oroville Mercury January 3rd, 4th and 9th, 1945

QUITE A REUNION OF OROVILLE MEN IN THE FAR PACIFIC

Lawrence H. Stram, Ph M 3/C of the 5th Marine division, writes from somewhere in the Pacific. "Seasons Greetings, tomorrow is Christmas Eve and it's sure a funny Christmas. We don't have many decorations around, just the little tree my mom used to put on our mantle and the holly wreath that hung in our front window at home, which she sent out to me to help bring Christmas closer. The American Red Cross Ladies put a lot of decorations in all the wards over at the hospital, a nice fir tree, wreaths, big candies, Santa Claus and streamers. It sure is pretty. "My mom says we're going to light our big cedar tree at home on Orange Avenue the day I get back, be it Christmas or the Fourth of July." Stram also writes that there are "several of us Orovillites out here and we do get together occasionally. Roger Van Duzer and Arlin Rhine are nearby, as are Richard Warmack, Ray Moore and George Lerner. We haven't been able to be on one of the other islands in the same group we're in so maybe someday we'll be able to have a reunion." Stram is a corpsman who has been serving with the Marines for 11 months in January.

NAVYMAN, FAMILY GUESTS AT THERMALITO HOME

Clarence Marlar, radio operator 3/C USN, his wife and daughter Betty, spent New Year's at the home of Mrs. William Keyes of Thermalito. Marlar is the son on Mr. and R. C. Marlar of Oroville.

IRENE CANNON BECOMES BRIDE OF CPL. CANNON AT NEVADA CEREMONY

Honeymooning in this city are Cpl. and Mrs. Charles F. Cannon, newlyweds of the waning year of 1944. The young couple were united at a ceremony at the Federated Church in Reno, Nev., Dec. 29. The bride is the former Irene Cannon daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L.C. Cannon of Pine Street, and the groom is Cpl. Cannon, U. S. Army. The Rev. Mr. Rice officiated at the rites held at 11:30 a. in. Mrs. Cannon chose for the ceremony a black suit with black accessories. She wore white gardenias. Mrs. Cannon attended the Bird Street grammar school and was a graduate of Oroville Union High School with the class of '44. She is now employed at the McClellan Field in Sacramento. She will return to the capitol city while the groom reports to Seattle the latter part of the month to await further orders. Cpl. Cannon has recently returned from thirty months in the Alaskan service. He is with the Engineers. Before leaving the states he was with the 53rd Infantry, Company H, stationed in Oroville.

NURSE'S SON IS MISSING

Mrs. Irma Kestello, superintendent of nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital, received word Sunday that her only son, Ted Ingraham, 33, had been reported missing in action. Ingraham, a shipfitter, 3/C in the U. S. Navy, attended Chico schools and following his graduation had worked as a miner near Oroville.

Stu's notes: As we will learn in future articles in this column, two of the above mentioned servicemen, Arlin Rhine and Ted Ingraham, gave their lives for our country and our little town of Oroville.