January 17,  2003

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 Orville 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 Register February 5th, 6th, 7th, & 10th, 1945.

 

Some Gave All

LESTER MORGAN DIES IN BATTLE

Palermo-Private Lester Morgan of Palermo, has been killed in action in the baffle of Luxembourg; his wife who lives in this community, has been notified by the War Department at Washington. Private Morgan is also survived by his mother, a long time resident of this community and by five small children. He was killed Jan. 11 in the German counter offensive. Morgan was inducted into the army from Palermo and had been in Europe only six weeks. A resident of Palermo all his life, Morgan had been engaged in ranching before entering the Army.

 

2 OROVILLE MEN IN LIST OF DEAD

Washington- The War Department today announced the names of 3,001 United States soldiers killed in action in the European and Southwest Pacific areas, including the following from Oroville: European: Bailey, Pvt. Lloyd E.; Mrs. Lula Bailey, mother Florence Ave., Oroville. Johnson, T/Set. Emery B. Mrs. Marie J. Johnson, wife, Route 2, Oroville. Girl, Baby born Mr. and Mrs. Clifford L. Stone of Paradise are the parents of a baby girl born Saturday at the Curran Hospital. This is their first child. The father is serving in the army.

 

MISS JUNE PITTS BRIDE OF SGT. A. A. JURISON

Miss June Pitts, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pitts of Quincy Road, became the bride of Sgt. Andrew A. Jurison at a ceremony in Chico January 26. Mrs. Jurison attended the local schools, graduating from Oroville high school with the class of 1942. Judson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A. A. Judson of North Braddock, Penn. He is stationed at Chico Army Air Field and they plan to make their home in Chico while he is stationed there.

 

SUB AND HEROIC CREW ARE LOST

Washington - The U. S. submarine Tang, which saved 22 naval aviators in a daring rescue off Japanese-held Truk island is overdue and presumed lost, the navy announced today. The Tang skipper was Cmdr. Richard H. O'Kane, 34 of San Rafael, Calif. He and the crew normally 65 to 70 were presumed lost.

 

BIGGS FLIER CREDITED WITH GOOD BEGINNING

Lt. Lloyd M. Andes, former Biggs auto mechanic, emerged from a "dog- fight" over Triers, Germany with two Nazi FW-190's to his credit and damage to a third. The P-39 Lightning combat pilot shot the German planes down during his first encounter with the enemy. The exploit wound up four days of continuous flying for the men of Lt. Andes squadron intent on smashing Von Rundsted’s offensive. "We realized when we saw them that we were numerically outnumbered," Lt. Andes said. "With an advantage of four to one over us. We went into the attack and soon planes seemed to be bursting all around us." Lt Andes is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Andes of Biggs. After enlistment he spent two ears ground crew work in the South Pacific and was later sent to a Ninth Air Force Bomber Base in France for officer training.

 

Stu's notes: Again we know so little about these Oroville boys who gave their lives for us and their country. Hopefully we will find out more but I am learning that there doesn't seem to be follow up stories about them. We're they brought home? Many times not. Was a funeral held in Oroville? So far I have read of only a few. Pvt. Lester's kids now would be in the 60s and 70s, where are they? Was he drafted with five young children? Did he join? I always want the rest of the story of our Heroes. I read the book by Cmdr. Richard O'Kane. He and most of his crew do survive. What a story about then, they were so brave. You can see P39 fighter on a mural on the City Hall building. A very hard to fly aircraft. A young Oroville pilot, 2nd Lt. Walter Turk, was killed in a training accident in a P39. I will have that story later.