May 30, 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. 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 March 19th & 20th, 1945

GERALD TABER WRITES OF WOUND

Word has been received that Pfc.,Gerald K. Taber was wounded in action in Germany the first part of the month. He is in a hospital in France and has been awarded the Purple Heart. A letter written by him to his wife gives the impression his wounds are not serious. He said he expects to be back with his outfit in about a month. Taber was in the 87th Infantry with Patton's 3rd Army and fought through France, Belgium and into Germany. He has been in combat since the first of the year. His initial training was at Camp Hood Texas. Prior to entering the army last July, he was employed as a brakeman by the Western Pacific. Mrs. Taber and their two daughters are living in Thermalito. He was the leader of the Boys' 4H Club there. An uncle, H. W. Taber, lives on Downer Street.

SGT. FLOYD BALL LIBERATED, HIS MOTHER LEARNS

Mrs. Alice Ball of Downer Street has received a telegram in forming her that Sgt. Floyd Ball, her son, is among the prisoners of war recently liberated. He was first reported missing in action but it was later learned through the Red Cross that he was a prisoner in Germany. He served with the 32nd Armored Regiment, tank division, and was in France when he was captured. He has been overseas nearly two years. He was stationed in England for about a year before going to France. Mrs. Ball has two other sons in the Army, S/Sgt. Cecil Ball in serving somewhere in the Pacific and Cpl. Byron Ball is fighting in Italy.

WHEELER -TEGTMEYER CEREMONY OBSERVED

Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Wheeler of Quincy Road are announcing the marriage of their daughter, Melba Lorraine, to Clifford Eugene Tegtmeyer, Yeoman 2/C of the US Navy. They were married in Reno March 14. After a few days spent honeymooning in Nevada, they will visit at the home of the bride's parents until the groom reports back for duty at Treasure Island in about a week. He will be reassigned there for overseas service. Mrs. Tegtmeyer graduated from Oroville high school and later attended at school of cosmetology in San Francisco. Her husband, the son of Mrs. G. I. Tegtmeyer, is from New Rochelle, N. Y., where he attended high school. He entered the Navy about five years ago and has been serving in the Pacific area. They were recently honored at a shower and buffet supper at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Miller of Quincy Road. The spacious rooms were decorated in a red, white and blue theme, using flowers and crepe paper streamers. A feature of the buffet table was the beautiful wedding cake topped with a miniature sailor and his bride. Games and Dancing were included in the evening's entertainment. The guests were Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Taber, Mr.and Mrs. Bemis Howell, Mrs. and Mrs. Jack Dudley, Mr. and Mrs. Cliff Busseau, Mrs. Lottie Fulk, Mrs. Elwood Danforth, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Stresser, Mr. and Mrs. Zopf, Mrs. 0. Raffaelli and Mr.

and Mrs. Wheeler.

Stu's notes: March 20, 1945 the war in Europe will soon be over, as the Allies marched through Germany they were now liberating our boys from the prison camps. If Floyd was in a tank when captured, he was very lucky. I've been told our Sherman Tank when hit went up liked Ronson Lighter. Although the German tanks were better then ours, we had more. I've also been told our young men would keep their tanks running better, as many grew up tinkering with their cars. Something most Germans didn't have. I would like to hear from any Army Tank men out there that will tell me their stories. The war brought many soldiers to the West Coast; some took away our young high school girls, some young men stayed here after the war like my friend Ray Heath In last week’s article we left off the Marines who also helped in the rescue of the P.0.Ws. Darby is worried that the Marines might be mad at him.