April 23, 2004
Oroville Mercury Register April 17, 1945
VAUGHAN WEARS 3 BATTLE STARS; WAS ON BISMARCK
Donald Vaughan, S 1/c, is home on leave after an experience
he will not soon forget. He was one of the nearly 400 survivors
of the escort carrier, Bismarck Sea, that was sunk by aerial attack
off Iwo Jima. The men struggled helplessly in the icy waters for
several hours before being rescued by naval vessels. Nearly 100
of their shipmates were killed as Japanese machine gunners strafed
them in the heavy seas. Vaughan wears three battle stars for action
at Iwo Jima, Luzon and Leyte. He told an amusing story about the
antics of the sailors when they cross the equator. In his case,
they cut his hair off short and made him run the gauntlet between
rows of men armed with paddles. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Vaughan of Quincy
Road are his parents. He left high school to enlist in the Navy
in December 1943. He received his boot training at San Diego and
then was assigned to the Bismarck Sea where he remained until its
sinking. He said it made him “mad when the Japanese sunk his home.”
At the end of 30 days, he will report to Alameda for further assignment.
SGT. LLOYD PRICE, GUNNER, MISSING
Mrs. Fern G. Price of Feather Falls has received a telegram from
the war department telling her that her husband, S/Sgt. Lloyd
C. Price, has been missing in action over Austria since March
31. Price is a gunner in the air corps and has been in Italy since
last November. Mrs. Price and the young son of the couple are staying
with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Bodker in Feather Falls.
Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Price of Palermo are the parents of Sgt. Price.
Oroville Mercury April 18, 1945
LLOYD PRICE, AIRMAN, SAFE
S-Sgt. Lloyd Price, reported missing in action over Austria March
31, is now reported safe, according to a telegram from the War Department
received by his wife, Mrs. Fern G. Price of Feather Falls. Price
was a gunner on a B-24 and had been in the European area since last
December. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Price of Palermo.
His wife and parents have also heard directly from him saying he
is safe and well and will write later. His plan was riddled by enemy
fire.
Stu’s notes:
Sgt. Deborah Shaner
April 15th 2004, “Things are pretty rough over here
now. We have completed our Missions and should fly out of here to
Kuwait, yippee.
April 19, 2004 “Hi everyone, we are in Kuwait just laying
around enjoying the sun…and sand. We only have to provide a few
people a day for camp details while we wait. Tomorrow I am going
on a trip to Doha to hang out for a few hours. Not much there but
a bigger Post exchange and a bigger food court. I sure don’t need
to spend any more money. We should be home sometime around the 1st
of May. See you all soon.” Debbie.
Last weeks article should have said Navy Corpsman Jason Rose,
formerly of Oroville, now of Woodland. Jason 27, was a Medic in
a Marine Battalion in Baghdad when he and the Marines pulled down
Saddam’s statue. Jason was interviewed by ABC News at the time.
Jason was attached to the Third Battalion Fourth Marine Division.
S 1/c Donald Vaughan had quite a lucky experience. Could
he be related to the A. Vaughan and Sons Feed Store, now a motorcycle
& Honda dealer down town? Marilynn Vaughan is a member of my Men
Who Built Oroville Dam Club. Could be related to her. I will find
out.
We lost so many Army Airmen over Europe. Many never found. It was
good to read the very next paper that Airman Price was safe.