February 7, 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 Oroville Mercury Register’s. 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.

Bill Connelly and I are co-chairmen of the Oroville Veterans Memorial Committee. Our plans are to build a fitting memorial in Oroville to honor all of our veterans past, present and future. If you would like a speaker at a club meeting, Ted Grainger and I would be glad to speak, please contact me at 533-8147.

Oroville Mercury Register February 17^th 1945

Blood Donors To Make Trip

Residents of Oroville and surrounding communities will have another chance to contribute to the American Red Cross Blood Bank next Saturday when a free bus trip to the Oakland center will be Sponsored by the local Tau Phi Lambda Sorority.  Accommodations for 35 persons will be available. The bus, donated by Oroville High School, will leave Saturday at 7 a. m. from Matthews' Garage on the corner of Montgomery and Downer Streets. The free blood bank trip project, originally sponsored by the Feather Falls Women's Community Club, was taken over recently by the sorority. Gasoline and oil expenses, and wages for the bus driver will be paid by the sorority. Registrations for the trip may be made before Feb. 22 by contacting Mrs. Calvin Onyett, executive secretary of the local Red Cross chapter, Mrs. Louise Brandt, sorority president, 494W; or Mrs. Mildred Dart, 792W. Both men and women are invited to sign up for the trip. Those under 21, cannot be accepted without written permission from their parents. Reservations cannot be accepted from children under 18.

LOCAL WOMAN LEARNS BROTHER A PRISONER

Sgt. Doyle Hamm, reported missing in action since Nov. 7, in Holland, is being held prisoner by the Germans, according to word received today by his sister, Mrs. B. E. McLemore of B street. The former Feather River Pine Mills employee was wounded in the chest during the action that preceded his capture. In a letter to another sister in Oklahoma, Hamm told of his wound but added "I'm O. K. now." Mrs. Lemore learned that her brother was a prisoner through a letter from the sister in Oklahoma.

TWO OROVILLE GIRLS IN SERVICE OF U. S. MARINES

Misses Lorena Mae and Louise Marcia Whitlock, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Whitlock of Lincoln Street, are serving in the U. S. Marine Corps and are enthusiastic about their work, much impressed by the opportunity to be of service in war time. Pfc. Louise Whitlock enlisted in November 1943, and trained at Camp Lejeune, N. C. Prior to entering the service, she was employed by the Western Pacific Co., at Sacramento. She is doing secretarial work in the quartermaster's corps. Pvt. Lorena Whitlock enlisted in March, 1944, and also trained at Camp Lejeune. She was later stationed in San Diego and was a member of the Halls of Montezuma mixed chorus that broadcasts from that city Saturday afternoons on a marine program. She was employed by the State Personnel Board, in Sacramento, at the time she entered the service and is doing the same type of work now. The sisters both attended Oroville High School.

Stu's notes: Last week I wrote about two young ladies that wore combat boots and drove trucks for the Army. My daughter 20 years in service to her country and Mertez Jones, Well one of my loyal readers, Chet Ramsey, called and said 'Hey, Stu, Mertez was my wife of 52 years. " Chet met her before he went to war. So the story goes he, being a game warden, picked up her brother shooting at something not in season, etc., took the boy home and met Miss Mertez Jones, lucky for Mike. More on Chet 's war stories later. Giving blood is a lot easier today. A trip to Oakland back then was not so easy. The roads followed the river, only two lanes. Old buses, probably cold or hot depending on the season. But the lives of many young soldiers were saved by the effort.