April 25, 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 Registers. If you have any information you would like to share please call me at 533-8147. 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 March 8,1945

 

ROY STEED TRAINING AT CAMP ROBERTS

M. Roy Eldon Steed enlisted in the Army last December. He is in the Infantry training at Camp Roberts. In a letter to his mother he said the infantry isn't so bad and "he likes it fine". After fifteen weeks training he expects a furlough. Steed attended Oroville High School and is the son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Steed of Lincoln Street.

 

Oroville Mercury June 20,1951

KILLED IN ALASKA

S/Sat. Roy E. Steed Jr., 25, only son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Steed of Lincoln Street, Oroville, was killed in an automobile accident at Anchorage, Alaska, Saturday. The former Oroville Union High School graduate was a veteran of five years' service with the U. S. Army and had served in the Philippine Islands during World War 11.

 

Oroville Mercury June25, 1945

LAST RITES SET FOR SGT.STEED

Funeral services for Staff Sgt. Roy E. Steed, 25, of Oroville, who was killed June 16 in an automobile accident at Anchorage, Alaska while returning to Oroville on a furlough, will be held here Wednesday. The rites will be in Hamilton-Riley Funeral Home at 2pm with the Rev. Mr. Doyle Dorrance officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park. Sergeant Steed's body arrived from Anchorage yesterday afternoon. Besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Roy E. Steed of Oroville, his survivors include the following aunts and uncles: Henry Dennis of Oroville, Mrs. Arnne Beaver of Oroville, Mrs. Rachel Thieme of Reno, Miss Beth Dennis of Marysville, Dr. Robert Dennis of Saratoga, William Dennis of Winatchee, Wash., Kenneth Dennis of Modesto L.L Steed of Sulphur Springs, Tex., and John Dennis, U. S. Army Air Forces, Newfoundland.

 

Oroville Mercury March 8, 1945

BILL MCFERRIN WAR PRISONER

Word has been received that Sgt Bill McFerrin. son of Mr. and Mrs. W. B. McFerrin of Paradise, is a prisoner of war in Germany. He was reported missing in action since Dec. 16, 1944. His wife, Mrs. Lillian McFerrin of Santa Rosa was notified by a telegram from the War Department. His older brother, 1^st Sgt. Forrest G. McFerrin, is with the 5^th Army on the Italian front. An army bulletin from the 5^th Army in Italy has been received telling of the award to Forrest of the Legion of Merit "for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." "McFerrin," the citation stated, "manifested superior proficiency in performing company administration and exhibited outstanding leadership on innumerable occasions by raising the morale of his company and maintaining the company morale when combat fatalities accounted for three of the four company officers." He has been overseas 26 months. A veteran of the Sicilian campaign, the Anzio beachhead and the break through of the Gothic line, he wears three battle stars on his European theatre ribbon. He was decorated by the commanding general of his corps. Mrs. Estelle McFerrin, his wife, lives in Paradise. A younger brother, Harold McFerrin, Soundman 1st Class, is serving aboard the USS Laning in the Atlantic area. The family lived in Oroville for a number of years and the boys attended the local schools.

 

Stu's notes: Roy E. Steed Jr. Although he didn't die on afar off battlefield he served his country well and he died while in the service of his country. He was from Oroville. He will be honored on our Veterans Memorial for all to see "that Some Gave A 11 ". What you read here is all that we know of this man. We hope to find more about this young hero from Oroville. Staff Sergeant Steed will be honored with those Oroville Men that died in the Korean War I say war because that is what it was Even if it is not called that by some. I just sent my own daughter Sgt Deborah J Shaner back to Ft Lewis, Washington She spent the weekend here on a 3-day furlough. Although her father hopes not, she is scheduled to go "over there " with her Yuba City Guard Unit.