January 16, 2004
Oroville Mercury April 10, 1945
Cpl. Hedge Gunner On A 4 Motor Bomber
AN EIGHT AIR FORCE LIBERATOR
STATION, ENGLAND
Cpl. Edward P. Barbee, son of Mable P. Hedge, Oroville, has
been assigned to the 93rd Bombardment Group as a gunner
on a four engine B-24 Liberator bomber. The group, commanded by
Colonel W. R. Robertson, Jr., is the oldest Liberator unit in the
Eighth Air Force. Even before Allied ground forces launched their
invasion of North Africa the 93d began hitting the enemy from the
air. The group has made three trips to Africa to provide air cooperation
for the Tunisian, Sicilian and Italian campaigns. Barbee is a graduate
of Roosevelt High School of San Diego. His wife is the former Kari
B Amerson of Birnamwood, Wisconsin.
LAYTON OUT OF THE NAVY
Kenneth Layton, two-war veteran, has been released from the
navy and is expected to arrive in Oroville the latter part of this
week or early next week. He had been stationed on Oahu Island. Layton,
whose wife is employed in a local department store, served as a
pharmacists mate both in World War I and World War II. He enlisted
the first time while still a student at Oroville High School. He
finished High school after the war ended in 1918. He is the son
of Mrs. Grace Layton of Feather Crag Apartments on Bridge Street
and the son-in-law of Sheriff W. H. Forward.
Stu’s notes: Last week’s article with the list of Those That
Gave All, from the Oroville Area brought forth a call from Joyce
Johnson. She told me about her brother Eugene Zimmerman,
who died in battle in Korea. He was 2 weeks shy of his 18th
birthday. He was in the Tank Corps. He went to school in Palermo
and went to Alamo High School in Alamo, California. He was the son
of Guy Zimmerman and Leona Zimmerman Anderson. Just when I think
I have all the names of our brave young soldiers, more seem to be
found. The same happened on the Oroville Dam Memorial.
Well Debbie is home! We picked her up last Saturday at the Sacramento
Airport. She will have two full weeks in Oroville. She is home now
with her 2 cats, 2 dogs, 2 horses and our puppy, Soldier. I have
two weeks off from my feeding job. She was in the air almost 21
hours. She started outside Baghdad went to Kuwait then to Germany
then Baltimore to Fort Worth, Texas to Sacramento. She stepped off
the plane in her desert camo’s, helmet in hand and Iraq and Kuwait
mud on her boots. I guess you could say My daughter wears army boots!
She is very upbeat about her job over there and says that the Iraqis
she has contact with are supportive of what we are doing. Although
the more I hear of what she does, the more I worry. We are all so
proud of what she and our Troops are doing.
My old friend Angelo Acebo called and said that his Uncle
Al Vasques was one of those in the picture last week. I hope
he can find out more about his uncle. Also Loreta Gerald, a long
time friend and sorority sister( Rho Eta, Chapter of Beta Sigma
Phi) to Lynn, called and was glad to see her Cousin-in law, Maj.
Leonard Campbell on our list. I have put him under the Cold
War. I thought of this several years ago as I have read so much
about this time after World War II up to 1991. Congress has been
debating on whether to give this period the recognition, as it should
be a War. Hundreds of our young men and women died in hostile action
and many, many more in accidents during this time period. Soon you
will see the Cold War on monuments. Ours will be one of the first.
I also talked to Leonard’s cousin, Doris Larsen who has more information
for me for a later story. On a very sad note a young Oroville boy,
Staff Sgt. Dean Witt, Oroville High School Graduate died after surgery.
He was in the Air Force. Oroville can and should be proud to have
so many brave young men and women.