September 26, 2003
Looking Back on Oroville's Heroes
By Stu Shaner
Oroville Mercury December 17, 1952
CPL. PAUL W. SMITH, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Smith, of Thermalito has returned to England from Germany where he was graduated from a language school after six months of study. Smith was graduated from Oroville, High School in 1949 and later attended San Jose State College before enlisting in the Army in December, 1950. He has been in Europe for the past 18 months.
We now know that Paul Smith was killed in Vietnam, May 5,
1968. He has a brother in the Highway Patrol somewhere down south. He was the
son of Gus and Ruth Smith. They
were good friends of my grandmother, Betty Mills, my uncle Stanley
Shanier, my parents and myself. I fished with my uncle and Gus and I
never knew his son died in Vietnam until years- later. Why? Paul died in Vietnam
while I was working up in Reno and never heard. I guess nobody talked about it
much. I will try to find out more about this man from Thermalito who "GAVE ALL "
for his country.
WENDELL L. BROWN,
son of
Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Brown of
Robinson street, Oroville, is spending a 30 day leave from the Navy with his
parents. Brown, who was formerly a Mercury carrier and who graduated from
Oroville High School in 1950, enlisted in the Navy in January 1951. For the past
19 months he has been stationed at Guam where he was assigned to the Welfare and
Recreation departments, as well as in the personnel department. Upon completion
of his leave he will report to Treasure Island for future assignment. Serving
aboard the destroyer USS Lewis Hancock is
James R. Henley, fireman, USN,
son of
Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Henley of
Oroville. The Hancock, a veteran of World War II, was returned to active service
in May 1951, and has served both in the Atlantic and Pacific since
re-commissioning. Proceeding via the Panama Canal from its homeport of Newport,
R.I., the Hancock recently joined the Seventh Fleet in support of UN action.
RICHARD E.
PATTISON,
Airman, USN, son of Mr. and Mrs. R.
S. Pattison of Madrone Avenue, Oroville, is serving at the U.S. Naval Air
Station, Alameda. Prior to entering the Navy in Feb., 1952, Pattison attended
Oroville Union High School.
Stu's notes: l want to thank
everyone involved in our POW/MIA Recognition Day. The ceremony went very well.
To see the brothers of David Winters holding their candies high in the sky in
honor of their lost brother really made the meaning of the day so important. You
could not be there without having a true feeling of their loss and the loss of
so many others. Hopefully this event will grow and in a few years be held on our
beautiful memorial grounds. It must be remembered that this event would not have
happened if it wasn't for Joan Lee who asked if it would be possible to do a
Missing Man Table and Ceremony on this special day. Joan lost her brother in
Vietnam. Next year I hope there will be more of the black POW/MIA flags flown
around town. Maybe all week before the ceremony.
News from Sgt.
Deborah Shaner,
Iraq: "Hi, thanks, the mayo is the most important. I can buy tuna
when it is in stock so I can make a tuna fish sandwich. I thought of a few other
things I needed anyway. I need some bungie cords and if you can find a light
weight small electric frying pan. I will be going on a mission tomorrow. I
believe that it is the railhead. We
are providing gun truck escorts of another unit. It's not too far away, it
should be a one-day trip. Yeah, chocolate does not travel well. Love Debbie